In order to evaluate antimicrobial activity of arbekacin (ABK), coagulase-type and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ABK and other drugs were determined against 700 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that were obtained in our laboratory from 1990 to 1996, 7 years.
The results are summarized as follows;
1. The MIC-distributions of ABK against 100 strains of MRSA obtained yearly did not show stochastically significant differences.
2. The coagulase-type distributions showed differences over the years. Coagulase-type II strains increased and type IV strains decreased, and MIC-distributions of ABK and other drugs were different according to coagulase-types.
3. The detection frequencies of ABK-resistant strains (MIC of ABK: ≥12.5μg/ml) were 2.0-8.0% through the years. The frequency reported in 1980 was equal to the frequency obtained in 1992-1993 in anationwide survey. Coagulase-types II, IV and VII that were ABK-resistant strains were frequently obtained, and most of ABK-resistant strains were also highly resistant to gentamicin.

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We investigated the therapeutic efficacy and safety of cefpirome sulfate (CPR) in treatment of hematopoietic disorder-associated infections. A total of 219 patients were admitted to 12 hospitals of Hanshin Study Group of hematopoietic disorders and infections between April 1994 and March 1996 and were enrolled in this study.
Most patients received intravenously infused CPR at a dose of 1 or 2g twice a day for 3 daysor more.
Twenty nine patients dropped out or were excluded and remaining 190 patients were adopted for the evaluation.
A overall response rate was 58.4% (111/190). Among neutropenic patients, the response rate was 50% (8/16) in patients whose peripheral neutrophil counts (PNC) remained less than 100/μl throughout the observation period and was 53.7% (22/41) in patients with PNC remained less than 500/μl.
In contrast, in patient whose PNC was below 500 before the treatment but exceeded 501/μl during of at the end of the treatment, the response rate was as high as 78.4% (29/37).
When G-CSF was combined, the response rate became significantly (P<0.05) higher, 68.5% (50/73), as compared with that, 52.1% (61/117), in patients without it.
In cases in which the causative organisms could be identified, the organisms were eliminated in 81.8% (9/11) of the patients infected with Gram-positive bacteria, whereas in 100% (12/12) in those infected with Gram-negative bacteria.
Skin eruption developed in 6 patients during the treatment with CPR, and vascular pain and parosmia in one each other. These symptoms subsided soon after discontinuation or even without discontinuation of CPR.
Abnormal laboratory findings, mainly liver dysfunction, i. e. elevation of slight degree of serum transaminase levels, were observed. The values, however, turned to normal immediately after the cessation or completion of the treatment.
In conclusion, CPR is considered to be an antibiotic of value with high efficacy and safety in treatment of hematopoietic disorder-associated infections.

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Imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS) was administered to 102 patients with respiratory tract infections and lung cancer. Patients with other serious diseases were excluded and a total of 73 patients were enrolled.
They were divided into 12 patients who underwent surgery (operated group) and 61 who did not (non-operated group); the latter group included 28 patients treated with anticancer agents or radiation therapy (treated group) and 33 untreated patients (untreated group).
IPM/CS was effective in 75% of the patients, both with and without surgery. The drug was effective in 81% of the treated group, although many of the patients had Stage III or more advanced cancer, as well as bronchial occlusion. IPM/CS was also effective in 69% of the untreated group, although many of the patients have serious infections and a PS (Performance Status) of 3 or greater. Thus, IPM/CS treatment achieved good results.
Bacteriological studies showed that 3 out of 4 strains in the operated group and 16 out of 18 in the non-operated group were eliminated.
Safety was evaluated in all patients. Two patients (2%) experienced side effects and two others (2%) showed abnormal clinical findings, but the symptoms were mild and resolved after discontin-uation or completion of therapy.
In conclusion, IPM/CS was very effective for treating respiratory infections in patients with lung cancer.

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The clinical efficacy was evaluated on 1% silver sulfadiazine (AgSD) cream (Geben(R)cream) for the treatment of ulcerative skin lesions infected with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
1% AgSD cream was applied once a day to cutaneous ulcers such as burns or decubitus or various other ulcers, infected with MRSA, in 13 patients. MRSA was eradicated in 45.5% of 11 evaluable patients. The clinical efficacy rate of 1% AgSD cream was 72.7% in this series of treatment. No side effects were noted in any of the patients, either locally or ystemically.
The results of the present study have indicated that 1% AgSD cream is useful for cutaneous ulcers such as burns or decubitus, infected with MRSA.

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