netilmicin and Anemia--Aplastic

In a prospective, randomized trial, netilmicin given once daily (OD) was compared in terms of efficacy and safety with the conventional 8-hourly dosing regimen (TD), both in combination with a broad spectrum beta-lactam, as initial empirical therapy for febrile neutropenic patients; the total daily dosage of netilmicin in each group was 6 mg/kg body weight. Twenty-nine of the 116 (25%) evaluable patients had microbiologically documented septicaemia, most of which were caused by Gram-positive bacteria, 41 (35%) had microbiologically documented infection without bacteraemia and 46 (40%) had possible infection. Highest peak serum concentrations of netilmicin in the OD group were significantly higher and trough serum concentrations significantly lower than in the TD group. A multivariate analysis revealed that neither the dosage regimen nor the peak serum concentration of netilmicin were determinants of a favourable outcome. The response rates of both groups to the initial treatment regimens were comparable and increased similarly following modification of the initial therapy. Response rates were particularly poor in patients with lower respiratory tract infection and in those who remained neutropenic throughout the course of treatment. The incidence of nephrotoxicity was low and did not differ significantly between groups. Once-daily dosing of netilmicin appears to be as effective and as safe as thrice-daily dosing, but is unlikely to further improve the response of febrile neutropenic patients to empirical therapy.

Topics: Anemia, Aplastic; Anti-Bacterial Agents; beta-Lactams; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Fever; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Netilmicin; Neutropenia; Prospective Studies

The efficacy and safety of a combination regimen using cefmetazole (CMZ) and netilmicin (NTL) were evaluated in the treatment of infections complicated with hematological disorders. Primary diseases in 31 patients included in the evaluation were acute myelocytic leukemia (3 cases), acute lymphocytic leukemia (2 cases), malignant lymphoma (14 cases), chronic myelocytic leukemia (2 cases), chronic myelocytic leukemia blast crisis (4 cases), myelodysplastic syndrome (2 cases), aplastic anemia (3 cases), and malignant histiocytosis (1 case). Complicated infections included 29 cases of suspected septicemia, 1 case of septicemia and 1 case of pneumonia. Clinical responses were excellent in 6 (19.4%), good in 12 (38.7%), fair in 1 (3.2%) and poor in 12 (38.7%). The total clinical efficacy rate was 58.1%. No significant effect of initial neutrophil counts was observed on response rates. Patients who showed increasing neutrophil counts during therapy had higher response rates than those in whom the neutrophil count decreased or remained unchanged at levels less than 500/mm3 in after neutrophil counts. No side effects were observed in any of the 31 patients. In conclusion, this combination therapy of CMZ and NTL thus appears to be useful and safe in therapies for infections complicated with hematological disorders.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anemia, Aplastic; Bacterial Infections; Cefmetazole; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Humans; Leukemia; Lymphoma; Male; Middle Aged; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Netilmicin