Antibacterial agents

Abstract

Traditionally, antipseudomonal penicillins combined with an aminoglycoside have been the standard choice for the initial therapy of fever and neutropenia. These regimens were covering primarilyEnterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and streptococci. The activity of the former antipseudomonal penicillins (such as carbenicillin, cefsulodin, azlocillin, and ticarcillin) against many Gram-negative rods was, however, rather limited, and the addition of an aminoglycoside was needed to compensate for this limited activity. In the 1980s, ceftazidime was one of the first drugs studied as monotherapy in febrile neutropenia. It was more active in vitro againstP. aeruginosathan most of the penicillins and highly active againstEscherichia coliandKlebsiellaspecies.