Local and general treatment with ceftazidime as monotherapy in central nervous system infections and in septicemic infection.

Twenty-three patients (mean age: 47 years; range: 4 months to 79 years) admitted to Varese Regional Hospital over the period from October 1983 to March 1984 and suffering from severe infections of a septicemic nature were treated with ceftazidime. All patients had previously received other broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. Isolation of causative pathogens and evaluation of their susceptibility to ceftazidime justified use of the drug as monotherapy. Ceftazidime was administered intravenously at the mean dose of 60-120 mg/kg/day. In some cases, it was injected directly into the renal parenchyma (2 g/day) or into the cerebral ventricles (1 mg/kg/day). Local and systemic tolerance were optimal in all cases, no significant side effects being observed. Eradication of pathogens was excellent and clinical outcome satisfactory in all patients.