Cefuroxime-tobramycin Therapy in Cancer Patients with Bacterial Infections

Abstract

Twenty-five patients with different metastatic tumors, and often with other diseases which may have further compromised their organic defenses (such as diabetes, anemia and neutropenia), had a simultaneous bacterial complication. This was regarded as documented (i.e., proved by positive culture) in 12 of 25 patients, and probable if subjective and objective symptoms, X-ray, laboratory tests and the clinical picture agreed with bacterial infection in progress, even though the culture was negative, in 13 of 25 patients. Antibiotic therapy with cefuroxime-tobramycin gave good results in 19 of 25 patients, i.e., in 10 of 12 with a documented infection and in 9 of 13 with a probable infection. Fever of unknow origin and urinary infections were the most responsive to the therapy. Three of 25 patients had nephrotoxicity, with a very small rise in BUN and creatinine, which was easily reversible. According to our experience, antibiotic therapy with cefuroxime-tobramycin would be useful in cancer patients with bacterial complications because of its effectiveness and tolerability.