colistin and Leukemia--Myeloid--Acute

A 55-year old man developed a hemorrhagic pneumonia, likely due to infection with Kytococcus sedentarius during neutropenia following induction chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia. Severe mucosal barrier injury and the selective pressure of broad-spectrum antibiotics probably made it possible for this normally harmless commensal to penetrate the gut, spread through the blood stream, and invade the lungs.

Topics: Actinomycetales; Actinomycetales Infections; Acyclovir; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bacteremia; Bacterial Translocation; Cefepime; Cephalosporins; Clostridium Infections; Colistin; Cytarabine; Daunorubicin; Drug Therapy, Combination; Etoposide; Fatal Outcome; Hemoptysis; Humans; Hydroxyurea; Immunocompromised Host; Intestinal Mucosa; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Metronidazole; Middle Aged; Neutropenia; Pneumonia, Bacterial; Superinfection; Teicoplanin; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

230 leukaemic patients were entered into a randomised, prospective, multicentre trial of either ciprofloxacin (1 g/day) or co-trimoxazole (1920 mg/day) plus colistin (800 mg/day) for the prevention of infection during granulocytopenia. Bacteraemia due to resistant gram-negative rods occurred only in the co-trimoxazole-colistin group though both regimens were effective for selective gastrointestinal tract decontamination. However, there were fewer patients without any infective complications (31% vs. 18%: P = 0.02), fewer febrile days [mean (S.D.) 5.9 (1.1) vs. 8.2 (1.4): P = 0.0242], a lower proportion of infective events (0.9 (0.16) vs. 1.2 (0.18): P = 0.005) and fever occurred later (median 19 vs. 14 days: 0.025 less than P less than 0.05) in the co-trimoxazole-colistin group. The choice of prophylactic regimen therefore appears to depend upon whether or not protection against gram-negative infection is required or better systemic prophylaxis overall.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Agranulocytosis; Ciprofloxacin; Colistin; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Middle Aged; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Premedication; Prospective Studies; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

30 patients with acute leukaemia being treated with cytotoxic drugs were investigated in a randomised trial to determine whether oral administration of co-trimoxazole in addition to non-absorbable antibiotics would reduce the rate of infection. Three significant differences were observed between the co-trmoxazole and the control groups: (i) 15 of the 16 (94%) control patients but only 8 of the 14 (57%) patients on co-trimoxazole developed infections and required additional antibiotics intravenously; (ii) although the duration of severe neutropenia (neutrophils less than 0.1 times 10(9)/1) was similar in the two groups, control patients required intravenous antibiotics on average after 2 days of neutropenia, whereas patients receiving co-trimoxazole required these only after 12 days; and (iii) the only 2 patients who died of infection were in the control group. Prophylaxis with co-trimoxazole is important in preventing or delaying the development of infection in neutropenic patients receiving therapy for acute leukaemia.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Clinical Trials as Topic; Colistin; Cross Infection; Drug Combinations; Drug Therapy, Combination; Framycetin; Humans; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Middle Aged; Neutropenia; Nystatin; Prospective Studies; Research Design; Sulfamethoxazole; Trimethoprim

Topics: Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Azabicyclo Compounds; Ceftazidime; Coinfection; Colistin; Drug Combinations; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Drug Therapy, Combination; Enterococcus faecalis; Enterococcus faecium; Eye Neoplasms; Febrile Neutropenia; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Humans; Klebsiella Infections; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Melanoma; Meropenem; Middle Aged; Neoplasms, Second Primary; Pseudomonas Infections; Tigecycline

Patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia are at high risk for bacterial infections during therapy-related neutropenia. However, the use of specific antibiotic regimens for prophylaxis in afebrile neutropenic acute myeloid leukemia patients is controversial. We report a retrospective evaluation of 172 acute myeloid leukemia patients who received 322 courses of myelosuppressive chemotherapy and had an expected duration of neutropenia of more than seven days. The patients were allocated to antibiotic prophylaxis groups and treated with colistin or ciprofloxacin through 2 different hematologic services at our hospital, as available. The infection rate was reduced from 88.6% to 74.2% through antibiotic prophylaxis (vs without prophylaxis; P=0.04). A comparison of both antibiotic drugs revealed a trend towards fewer infections associated with ciprofloxacin prophylaxis (69.2% vs 79.5% in the colistin group; P=0.07), as determined by univariate analysis. This result was confirmed through multivariate analysis (OR: 0.475, 95%CI: 0.236-0.958; P=0.041). The prophylactic agents did not differ with regard to the microbiological findings (P=0.6, not significant). Of note, the use of ciprofloxacin was significantly associated with an increased rate of infections with pathogens that are resistant to the antibiotic used for prophylaxis (79.5% vs 9.5% in the colistin group; P<0.0001). The risk factors for higher infection rates were the presence of a central venous catheter (P<0.0001), mucositis grade III/IV (P=0.0039), and induction/relapse courses (vs consolidation; P<0.0001). In conclusion, ciprofloxacin prophylaxis appears to be of particular benefit during induction and relapse chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia. To prevent and control drug resistance, it may be safely replaced by colistin during consolidation cycles of acute myeloid leukemia therapy.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Antineoplastic Agents; Bacterial Infections; Central Venous Catheters; Ciprofloxacin; Cohort Studies; Colistin; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Middle Aged; Mucositis; Neutropenia; Retrospective Studies; Young Adult

Recent meta-analyses showed that antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with neutropenia after chemotherapy reduced the incidence of fever and mortality rate. Fluoroquinolones appear to be most effective and well tolerated. Thus, in April 2008, we changed our antibiotic prophylaxis regimen from cotrimoxazole/colistin (COT/COL) to the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin (CIP) in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The aim of this retrospective study was to compare efficacy and development of bacterial resistance with two different prophylaxis regimens over a time period of more than 4 years.. Induction chemotherapy courses given for AML during the antibiotic prophylaxis period with COT/COL (01/2006-04/2008) and CIP (04/2008-06/2010) were retrospectively analyzed with a standard questionnaire.. Eighty-five courses in the COT/COL group and 105 in the CIP group were analyzed. The incidence of fever was not significantly different (COT/COL 80 % vs CIP 77 %; p = 0.724). Also, the rate of microbiologically documented infections was nearly the same (29 vs 26 %; p = 0.625). In addition, there was no significant difference in the incidence of clinically documented infections (11 vs 19 %; p = 0.155) or in the rates of detected gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Of note, there was no increase in resistance rates or cases with Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in the CIP group.. The antibiotic prophylaxis with CIP compared to COT/COL in AML was similarly effective with no increase in bacterial resistance. COT/COL may have the advantages of providing additional prophylaxis against Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia and leaving fluoroquinolones as an additional option for treatment of febrile neutropenia.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotic Prophylaxis; Antineoplastic Agents; Bacterial Infections; Ciprofloxacin; Clostridioides difficile; Colistin; Diarrhea; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous; Female; Fever; Fluoroquinolones; Humans; Incidence; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Middle Aged; Neutropenia; Pneumocystis carinii; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Retrospective Studies; Surveys and Questionnaires; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

The incidence of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRPA) and metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL)-producing P. aeruginosa has increased worldwide. The treatment options are limited for infectious diseases caused by these two organisms. The use of colistin has been of recent interest in cases involving both types. We report the case of a 74-year-old man with acute myeloid leukemia who was successfully treated with intravenous colistin for maxillary sinusitis and orbital cellulites due to MBL-producing MDRPA during neutropenia, and then for pneumonia caused by the bacteria after the recovery of neutrophil counts.

Topics: Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents; beta-Lactamases; Colistin; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Maxillary Sinusitis; Orbital Cellulitis; Pneumonia; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Pseudomonas Infections; Treatment Outcome

To evaluate the effect of total bowel decontamination (TD) and selective bowel decontamination (SD) in a non-protective environment clinical and laboratory data of children treated for acute leukaemia between 1983 and 1991 were analysed retrospectively. From 1983 until 1989 34 patients [18 acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemia (ANLL) patients, 16 acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) patients] received TD and 31 patients (8 ANLL patients, 23 ALL patients) received SD from 1987 until 1991. TD consisted of colistin sulphate, neomycin, cephaloridine and amphotericin B orally as well as Orabase and sterilized food, while the patients were nursed in a single room. SD consisted of oral colistin sulphate, neomycin and amphotericin B. Those patients with ANLL were nursed in a single room; patients with ALL were nursed in a single room during remission induction therapy only. All patients except those with ANLL receiving TD received Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia prophylaxis with cotrimoxazole. Because the two groups were heterogeneous for diagnosis and chemotherapy the occurrence of fever (central body temperature at least 38.5 degrees C) and major infections (septicaemia of infections of the deep tissues or organs) were registered during periods of neutropenia (neutrophilic granulocytes < or = 500/mm3 for at least 8 days). Patients on TD had 55 periods of neutropenia, patients on SD 80. Patients on TD had 89.1 periods of fever/100 periods of neutropenia whereas patients on SD had 56.3. Also patients on TD had 27.3 major infections/100 periods of neutropenia whereas patients on SD had 11.3. Major infections predominantly consisted of septicaemia caused by gram-positive bacteria. We conclude that, in this study, TD in a non-protective environment does not offer better protection against major infections that SD in patients with ALL or ANLL.

Topics: Adolescent; Amphotericin B; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteremia; Bacterial Infections; Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium; Cephaloridine; Cephalosporins; Child; Child, Preschool; Colistin; Drug Therapy, Combination; Food Handling; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Humans; Infant; Intestines; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Neomycin; Neutropenia; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; Retrospective Studies; Sterilization; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

Thirty-four patients with haematological malignancies were studied to investigate the effect of empirical broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy (ceftazidime and gentamicin) on the gastro-intestinal flora. Twenty-five patients with acute myeloid leukaemia or post-autologous bone-marrow transplantation were given framycetin, nystatin and colistin (Fracon), and two patients with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma were on co-trimoxazole, as long-term gut prophylaxis. Semi-quantitative microbiology was carried out on oropharyngeal swabs and quantitative microbiology on faecal specimens. The oropharyngeal flora consisted mainly of streptococci, coagulase-negative staphylococci and coryneforms, and was little affected by ceftazidime/gentamicin. A strain of Enterobacter cloacae resistant to ceftazidime and gentamicin colonized one patient, who later developed septicaemia. The faecal flora of patients on Fracon was dominated by enterococci; the few enterobacteria present were eliminated by ceftazidime/gentamicin. The anaerobic flora was absent in 15% of patients; in the remainder, it consisted mainly of Bacteroides spp., and was little affected by ceftazidime/gentamicin. The faecal flora of patients not on Fracon always contained anaerobes, and some strains of enterobacteria persisted throughout antibiotic treatment. None of the patients was colonized by Clostridium difficile or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Broad-spectrum therapy with ceftazidime and gentamicin appeared to have little effect on the gastro-intestinal flora, except to encourage the overgrowth of enterococci and reduce the numbers of enterobacteria.

Topics: Ceftazidime; Colistin; Enterobacter; Feces; Gentamicins; Humans; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; Neutropenia; Nystatin; Oropharynx; Risk Factors; Staphylococcus; Streptococcus; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

Faecal volatile fatty acids represent the end products of the metabolism of the anaerobic flora of the large bowel. The excretion of these volatile acids has been investigated in five leukaemic patients maintained in plastic ;germ-free' isolators. Under ;isolator' conditions there is a pronounced fall in volatile fatty acid excretion. The possibility that the measurement of these acids may be used to monitor anaerobic overgrowth and recolonization in these patients is discussed.

Topics: Adult; Chromatography, Gas; Colistin; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Feces; Female; Gentamicins; Humans; Intestine, Large; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute; Leukemia, Myeloid; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Middle Aged; Nystatin; Patient Isolators; Propionates; Vancomycin

Topics: Agammaglobulinemia; Aged; Colistin; Drug Eruptions; Drug Hypersensitivity; Female; Humans; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Middle Aged; Penicillins