CLINICAL STUDIES ON CEFTAZIDIME (SN 401) IN THE TREATMENT OF RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS

Abstract

Clinical investigations were performed on Ceftazidime (CAZ, SN401), a new broad spectrum cephalospor in.
Ceftazidime was administered to a total of 11 patients with respiratory tract infections (8 with pneumonia, 1 with lung abscess, 1 with panbronchiolitis and 1 with pyothorax). The drug was administered at a daily dose of 1g (5 cases) or 2g (6 cases) for 9 days (1 case) or 14 days (9 cases). Ceftazidime was discontinued after 4 days' therapy in 1 patient with pneumonia because of rash.
The following 3 potential pathogens were isolated from the sputum and pleural effusion of these patients at the start of the treatment with ceftazidime: 1 strain each of β-Streptococcus, S. aureus and B. fragilis. All of them were eradicated during the treatment with ceftazidime. The clinical response to the treatment with ceftazidime was excellent in 4 cases and good in 7 cases. A female patient with pyothorax by B.fragilis showed a pattern of fever like HERXHEIMER's reaction but she did not show any shock symptom. A slight elevation of serum transaminase was observed in 2 patients and rash in 1.
From the above results, it is concluded that ceftazidime is one of the most effective and useful antibiotics against severe RTIs.