Clinical evaluation of sulbactam/cefoperazone for severe infections associated with hematological disorders]

The combination therapy of sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ) and piperacillin (PIPC) was evaluated in 49 patients with severe infections associated with hematological disorders. Clinical responses in 43 evaluable patients out of the 49 patients were excellent in 12, good in 18, thus, overall efficacy rate was 69.8% (excellent plus good). Efficacy rates of this combination therapy were 60% (3/5) for sepsis, 75% (21/28) for suspected sepsis, and 50% (4/8) for pneumonia. The efficacy rate was 71.4% (10/14) in patients with neutrophil counts less than 200/microliters; this combination therapy was highly effective even in the neutropenic patients. Transient increases in hepatic function test values were observed in 2 patients, but no other side effects were observed during the combination therapy. From these observations it appears that the combination therapy of SBT/CPZ and PIPC is a very useful empiric therapy for severe infections associated with hematological diseases.     

Clinical evaluation of sulbactam/cefoperazone for severe infections associated with hematological disorders

The effectiveness of sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ) on severe infections associated with hematological diseases was evaluated in a nation-wide multicenter clinical study. SBT/CPZ (4-6 g/day), a 1:1 combination of SBT and CPZ, was given intravenously to 437 patients with hematological disorders. The underlying diseases included acute nonlymphocytic leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, malignant lymphoma, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome and others. Thus, 94.3% of the patients had hematological malignancies. The complicating infections included sepsis in 41 cases; sepsis suspected in 205; pneumonia in 47; urinary tract infection in 15; fever of unknown origin in 59; and others in 70. Clinical efficacies of SBT/CPZ were as follows; markedly effective, 83 cases; effective, 170; fairly effective, 59; and ineffective, 110. The efficacy rate (markedly effective plus effective) was 60.0% as a whole. The efficacy rate of SBT/CPZ in sepsis and suspected cases, which accounted for 56.3% of the infections, was 59%. Mild side effects such as skin rash were observed in 15 patients (3.1%). As for abnormal laboratory test results, transient increases in GOT, GPT, A1-P, LDH, etc. were observed in 42 patients (8.6%). Therefore, SBT/CPZ is considered to be a useful drug in empiric therapy for severe infections associated with hematological diseases.     

Treatment with sulbactam/cefoperazone of severe infections in patients with hematological disorders

Infectious episodes in 90 patients with hematological disorders were treated with sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ), a new combination drug of a potent beta-lactamase inhibitor, sodium sulbactam, and a third generation cephalosporin, sodium cefoperazone. Clinical responses to the SBT/CPZ regimen were excellent in 23 cases, good in 30 cases, fair in 11 cases, and poor in 26 cases. The overall efficacy rate (percentage of cases showing excellent or good responses) was 58.9%. Efficacy rates classified according to different infections were: 80% in documented sepsis, 57.6% in suspected sepsis, 61.1% in pneumonia and 50% in other infections. One episode of side effect was encountered with redness and itching of skin. Hepatic disorders were observed in 3 cases. These adverse reactions, however, were not serious. These results indicate that SBT/CPZ has a high therapeutic efficacy to severe infections in patients with hematological disorders.     

Clinical evaluation of cefbuperazone in severe infections complicated with hematological disorders

The efficacy and the safety of an antibiotic in cephamycin group, cefbuperazone (CBPZ), were investigated in 93 patients with severe infections complicated with hematological disorders. The efficacy evaluation was made in 85 cases with underlying hematological disorders including 49 cases (57.6%) of leukemia and 18 cases (21.2%) of malignant lymphoma. The overall efficacy rate was 50.6% of the 85 evaluable cases. The clinical efficacy rate for sepsis and suspected sepsis was 53.4%. The most frequently used group of antibiotics for combination therapy was aminoglycosides in 37 cases, in which an efficacy rate of 62.2%, a higher rate than the efficacy rate of 48.5% for all the combination therapy cases, was obtained. In 16 cases in which penicillins were used as combination drug, the efficacy rate obtained was low, 31.3%. Efficacy rates obtained for cases with different neutrophil counts at the start of therapies were as follows: 52.2% in 23 cases with neutrophil counts below 100/mm3, 46.2% in 13 cases with neutrophil counts between 100 and 499/mm3 and 51.3% in 39 cases with neutrophil counts equal to or above 500/mm3, thus no significant differences in efficacy rates were observed for patients with different neutrophil counts. These results appear to suggest that CBPZ, alone or in combination with other antibiotic such as aminoglycosides, may be quite useful in the treatment of severe infections in patients with hematological disorders.     

Experimental and clinical studies of sulbactam/cefoperazone in pediatric field

Clinical trials were carried out with sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ) (combination ratio of 1:1) in pediatric infections. Results were as follows. The mean half-lives of SBT and CPZ in the serum following intravenous injection of SBT/CPZ were about 0.7 and 1.2 hours, respectively. Urinary excretions of SBT and CPZ within 6 hours after intravenous injection of SBT/CPZ were 81.9% and 28.1%, respectively. SBT/CPZ was administered to 33 pediatric patients with various infection; 18 respiratory tract infections, 12 urinary tract infections and 3 Salmonella enterocolitis. The overall efficacy rate was 87.9%. In particular, 7 of 8 urinary tract infections caused by beta-lactamase producing organisms were improved after administration of SBT/CPZ. Diarrhea in 8 and soft stool in 3 of 33 patients occurred, and slight elevation of GOT/GPT was observed in 2 patients.     

Clinical evaluation of imipenem/cilastatin sodium against severe infections complicating hematological disorders and solid tumors

Imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS) was administered to a total of 67 patients with severe infections complicating hematological disorders and solid tumors. Fifty patients are included in the present analysis of efficacy and 64 in that of safety. 1. Out of 31 patients with hematological disorders, responses were excellent in 10 patients, good in 10 patients, and the efficacy rate was 64.5%. Out of 19 patients with solid tumors, responses were excellent in 8 patients, good in 8 patients and the efficacy rate was 84.2%. 2. For patients whose responses to other antibiotics had been poor, the efficacy rate was 59.3% in the group with hematological disorders and 62.5% in the group with solid tumors. 3. The relationship between the neutrophil count and efficacy was studied in the patients with hematological disorders. The efficacy rate for 8 patients whose neutrophil counts were 500/mm3 or less was 75.0%. 4. For the patients with hematological disorders, the efficacy rate for patients from whom causative organisms were isolated was 70.0% and that for patients for whom they were unknown was 61.9%. 5. Adverse reactions were observed in 3 patients and abnormal laboratory test results in 2 patients. However, they were mild and disappeared after discontinuation of this drug. From these results, IPM/CS is considered to be a useful antibiotic for the treatment of severe infections complicating hematological disorders and solid tumors.     

Clinical evaluation of sulbactam/cefoperazone in lower respiratory tract infections

Clinical evaluation, safety and kinetics in serum of sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ) in patients with lower respiratory tract infections have been studied in a multicenter trial participated by 28 institutions in Kyushu area during a period of 13 months from March 1987 to March 1988. 1. Mean peak serum levels of SBT and CPZ in 35 patients up to 4 hours after intravenous infusion of 2 g of SBT/CPZ were 38.2 +/- 17.3 micrograms/ml for SBT and 104.3 +/- 31.4 micrograms/ml for CPZ. Serum half-lives of SBT and CPZ were 0.76 hour and 1.53 hours, respectively. These results were in similar ranges to those reported elsewhere for SBT/CPZ. 2. Serum half-lives of SBT and CPZ after intravenous infusion of 2 g of SBT/CPZ were not significantly prolonged in patients with moderate liver or kidney dysfunctions. 3. Clinical efficacy rates of SBT/CPZ in 217 patients were 93.1% (81/87) for pneumonia, 93.3% (14/15) for lung abscess, 78.9% (15/19) for acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, 57.1% (4/7) for diffuse panbronchiolitis, 72.4% (21/29), 74.4% (32/43) and 100% (9/9) for infections concurrent to bronchiectasis, chronic respiratory disease and pulmonary emphysema, respectively. Those were 50% (1/2) for bronchitis associated with lung cancer and 66.7% (4/6) for empyema. The overall efficacy rate was 83.4% (181/217). 4. Clinical efficacy rate of SBT/CPZ for pneumonia in patients with underlying diseases such as lung cancer, pulmonary tuberculosis and pneumoconiosis, etc, was 85.3% (29/34) and was not significantly different from the efficacy rate of 98.1% (52/53) in patients without these underlying diseases. 5. Of 30 patients who failed to respond of previous antibiotic treatments, 21 were effectively treated by SBT/CPZ. 6. Bacteriological eradication rates against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae were 42.9% (9/21), 87.5% (14/16) and 100% (5/5), respectively. The overall eradication rate in all cases including polymicrobial infections was 72.8% (67/92). 7. The high levels of peak serum concentration of CPZ, and the difference between serum levels of SBT and of CPZ seemed to contribute to the high clinical efficacy. 8. Adverse reactions occurred in 2.8% (6/217) of the patients, and consisted primarily of rash and diarrhea. Laboratory abnormalities were observed in 8 patients during the study. These were elevations of S-GOT and S-GPT, and eosinophilia. 9. SBT/CPZ is a very useful drug in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections as it has become available just in time when increase in resistant organisms to beta-lactams is notable.     

Clinical evaluation of ceftazidime monotherapy for infections complicated with hematological disorders]

Fifty patients with infections associated with hematological disorders were treated with ceftazidime (CAZ). Among them 44 cases were evaluable, including 21 with acute leukemia, 17 with malignant lymphoma, and 6 with other hematological disorders. Excellent responses were observed in 15 patients (34.1%) and good responses in 15 (34.1%), with an overall efficacy rate of 68.2%. The efficacy rate among sepsis and suspected sepsis cases was 67.6%. This treatment was also effective in 7 of 10 cases in which neutrophil counts were less than 500/mm3 through the course of administration. Laboratory abnormalities included mild eosinophilia in 1 case, slight elevation of GOT in 1 case and slight elevation of GPT in 1 case. These results suggest that CAZ is an effective and safe antibiotics for the treatment of infections in patients with hematological disorders.     

Clinical studies of sulbactam/cefoperazone therapy in pediatric bacterial infections

Sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ) was administered intravenously to 9 patients with respiratory infections (H. influenzae 6 cases, pathogens unknown 3 cases), 2 patients with urinary tract infection (E. coli and C. freundii; both cases had VUR), and 1 patient with staphylococcal bacteremia. In these causative bacteria, 5 strains (H. influenzae 3, E. coli 1 and S. aureus 1) were beta-lactamase producers. Bacteriological efficacy (eradication rate) was complete (9/9, 100%) and clinical efficacy was also complete (12/12, 100%). In comparison with CPZ alone, MICs of SBT/CPZ against beta-lactamase producing bacteria were superior. Although mild side effect was observed in 1 case (eosinophilia), no other severe form of adverse reaction were encountered. It was concluded that SBT/CPZ was an useful antibiotic for the treatment of pediatric bacterial infections, especially caused by beta-lactamase (penicillinase) producing bacteria.     

Clinical evaluation of sulbactam/cefoperazone in the pediatric infections

Sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ), a fifty-fifty combination of a beta-lactamase inhibitor, SBT, and an already marketed broad spectrum cephalosporin, CPZ, was evaluated for its efficacy and safety in 25 children. The diagnoses included purulent lymphadenitis, pneumonia, acute UTI, bacteremia and purulent meningitis. SBT/CPZ was effective in all the 20 cases with bacterial infections, but strains highly resistant to CPZ were not isolated in this study. The serum and cerebrospinal-fluid levels of SBT were grossly parallel with those of CPZ, and the half-life of the serum SBT was 0.754 hour. Although severe adverse reactions were not encountered with SBT/CPZ therapy, loose stools in 20% and diarrhea in 16% of the cases were observed.     

Passage into the human milk and clinical evaluation of sulbactam/cefoperazone

A combined agent of sulbactam, a beta-lactamase inhibitor, plus cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ: 1/1) was studied on the passage into the maternal milk as well on the clinical application and the results were followings: One or 2 grams of SBT/CPZ was given by one shot intravenous injection to puerperal mothers to determine the passage into the milk up to 6 hours after the administration. A trace of passage was detected for both SBT and CPZ as in the case of other antibiotics. Good clinical efficacy was observed in all 5 patients with female genital organ infections, to whom a daily dose of 2.0 g of SBT/CPZ was administered by drip infusion for 4 to 6 days. No side effects were noticed.     

Fundamental and clinical studies of sulbactam/cefoperazone in obstetrics and gynecology

The study was done to evaluate the usefulness of sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ) injection for the treatment of infections in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Fundamental and clinical studies were made and the following results were obtained. In the clinical studies, SBT/CPZ was given to 19 cases with female genital organ infections. As for the clinical effects, responses were excellent in 4 cases, good in 15 cases among 19 cases in total. The efficacy rate was 100%. The efficacy rate on disease was 100% in all cases (9 cases of puerperal uterine infection, 1 case of endometritis, 1 case of pyometra, 5 cases of adnexitis, 2 cases of pelveoperitonitis and 1 case of abscess of vulva). As for causative bacteria, the efficacy rate was 100% for all infections due to single or mixed infection, due to aerobic Gram-negative, -positive or anaerobic bacteria. Side effect was observed in 1 case with diarrhea. SBT/CPZ showed a satisfactory clinical efficacy and a potent bacteriological effect in treatment of the infection in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, and it has been concluded that SBT/CPZ will be a useful addition to the antibiotics for the therapy of these infections.     

Effects of sulbactam/cefoperazone in patients with respiratory infections in aged and/or with underlying respiratory diseases

Sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ), a new antibacterial drug, was administered to 14 cases with respiratory infections for a duration of 5 approximately 13 days at a daily dose of 4 g. Diagnoses of these patients were 7 respiratory tract infections, and 7 bronchopneumonias. The underlying diseases were chronic pulmonary emphysema in 6 cases, bronchial asthma in 2 cases, and one each of bronchiectasis, diffuse panbronchiolitis and lung cancer with bronchoesophageal fistula. All patients had underlying respiratory diseases and/or were more than 70 years old. The rate of clinical efficacy was 78.6%. The incidence of penicillinase production by isolated bacteria was 18.2% and that of cephalosporinase was 63.6%. SBT/CPZ was expected to be more effective than CPZ alone in 3 cases judging from the susceptibility of the bacterial strains concerned, to antibiotics. No side effects were observed. We conclude that SBT/CPZ is useful in the treatment of respiratory infections of patients of advanced age and/or with underlying respiratory diseases.     

Clinical experience with chemotherapy using sulbactam/cefoperazone for severe infections accompanying malignant hematological disorders

Clinical and bacteriological efficacies of sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ) were studied in 44 patients with serious infections associated with hematological malignancy. 1. SBT/CPZ was clinically effective in 33 cases (76.7%). Excellent effects were obtained in 23 cases, good effects in 10 cases and fairly good effects in 7 cases. Clinical effectiveness of SBT/CPZ was not dependent on neutrophil number in peripheral blood. 2. Bacteriologically SBT/CPZ was effective against all of the isolated organisms from 21 cases. 3. Adverse reactions were not significant except one case with eruption, 2 cases with abnormalities in hepatic function tests and 3 cases with abnormalities in renal function tests.     

Clinical evaluation of sulbactam/cefoperazone for infections in the field of obstetrics and gynecology

A daily dose of 2 or 4 grams of sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ) by drip infusion was given to 12 patients with gyneco-obstetrical infections and the results were following: The clinical effect was judged excellent in 2 cases, good in 9 cases and poor in 1 case, and the effective rate was 91.7%. Except for Streptococcus faecalis, the bacteriological effect was sufficient. A good effect was also seen in Pseudomonas cepacia resistant organism to other cephem antibiotics. Diarrhea was observed in 1 patient, and increases of GOT and GPT, possibly attributable to concomitantly used anticancer agent, were detected in another patient. In conclusion, SBT/CPZ with a 91.7% of efficacy rate, was useful in infections caused by beta-lactamase producing organisms and, thus, a useful agent for gyneco-obstetrical infections.     

Experience with sulbactam/cefoperazone in the field of obstetrics and gynecology

Sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ) was studied for clinical efficacy in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, and following results were obtained: In the treatment of 6 cases of gynecological infection, the clinical efficacy of SBT/CPZ was assessed as excellent in 1 case and effective in 5 cases. Neither adverse effects nor abnormalities in laboratory findings due to SBT/CPZ were observed. Based on these results, SBT/CPZ is considered to be a highly effective antibiotic with clinical efficacy in obstetric and gynecological infections in the daily dosage of 2 g given in two divided doses.     

Fundamental and clinical studies on sulbactam/cefoperazone in the field of obstetrics and gynecology

A combination of sulbactam, a beta-lactamase inhibitor, plus cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ = 1/1) was studied in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, and the results were following: Absorption and transfer into genital organ tissues were good. With the 1g intravenous injection the maximum serum concentrations in the uterine artery were 88.6 micrograms/ml for CPZ and 50.0 micrograms/ml for SBT, and the maximum tissue concentrations were 12.2-17.4 micrograms/g for CPZ and 9.8-21.4 micrograms/g for SBT. When the 2 g was administered, the maximum tissue concentrations were 11.9-26.7 micrograms/g for CPZ and 6.0-8.0 micrograms/g for SBT. These elimination showed the similar trend as their serum levels, and their tissue levels were higher than MIC80 for the main organisms. Their penetration into the intrapelvic dead space exudate was also good and showed that the peak levels were 30.1 micrograms/ml for CPZ and 17.4 micrograms/ml for SBT at 2 hours after the 2 g intravenous injection. The peak levels of 34.4 micrograms/ml for CPZ and 8.8 micrograms/ml for SBT at 6 hours after 2 g intravenous drip infusion were obtained. Their elimination was slow, and the concentration higher than MIC80 for main organisms was maintained for a long period of time. For gyneco-obstetrical infections such as adnexitis, intrauterine, intrapelvic and external genital organ infections, a daily dose of 2-4 g of SBT/CPZ produced a 100% clinical efficacy in 10 patients and a 88.9% bacteriological effect. The eradication ratio was more than 80% against beta-lactamase producing organisms. Side effects were few. The above results indicated that SBT/CPZ was useful in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.     

Clinical assessment of sulbactam/cefoperazone in comparison with ceftizoxime in patients with postoperative infections by well controlled method

The clinical effectiveness in postoperative infections of sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ, (SBT 0.5 g+ CPZ 0.5 g) X 2/day) was compared to that of ceftizoxime (CZX, 1.0 g X 2/day) by a well controlled comparative study, to have the following results. The overall effectiveness rate of SBT/CPZ and CZX as judged by Judgement Committee was 84.0% (63/75) and 80.6% (50/62), respectively, and the effectiveness of SBT/CPZ and CZX as assessed by the attending surgeons was 84.0% (63/75) and 71.0% (44/62), respectively. No significant difference was noted in both assessments. In a total of 36 SBT/CPZ-treated patients with intraabdominal infections, the clinical efficacy was judged by attending surgeons to be excellent in 13 patients (36.1%), and to be excellent or good in 31 (86.1%). In the 30 CZX treated patients, it was judged to be excellent in 6 patients (20.0%), and to be excellent or good in 19 (63.3%). These results presented a significant difference (P less than 0.05, U-test) between the 2 drug groups. The final global improvement ratio judged by attending surgeons was 85.3% (64/75) for SBT/CPZ, and 79.0% (49/62) for CZX with no significant difference. In assessment of time-course improvement, the improvement ratio of SBT/CPZ on day 4 was significantly better than that of CZX (P less than 0.05, U-test). The usefulness rate of SBT/CPZ and CZX was 84.0% (63/75) and 73.0% (46/63), respectively. There was no significant difference between the 2 drug groups. To assess the bacteriological efficacy, the eradication rate of SBT/CPZ was compared to that of CZX. There was no significant difference between 85.7% (36/42) for SBT/CPZ and 73.5% (25/34) for CZX. After SBT/CPZ administration, 2 patients (2.5%) complained of side effects. In the clinical laboratory tests, abnormality related to SBT/CPZ medication was observed in 6 patients (7.5%), and that related to CZX, in 5 patients (6.4%). As to the types of side effects and frequency, no significant difference was observed between SBT/CPZ and CZX. It is concluded from the above assessments that SBT/CPZ is a useful drug in the treatment of post-operative infections.     

Fundamental and clinical studies of sulbactam/cefoperazone in the field of pediatrics

Sulbactam/cefoperazone (SBT/CPZ) was evaluated in the treatment of pediatric patients to have the following results: Peak serum concentrations which occurred just after the drip infusion of 20 mg/kg SBT/CPZ were 36.4 micrograms/ml and 8.6 micrograms/ml for CPZ and SBT, respectively. The half-life of CPZ was 1.91 hours, and that of SBT, 0.97 hour. Following the 40 mg/kg drip infusion, the peak serum concentration of CPZ was 79.1 micrograms/ml, and that of SBT, 27.0 micrograms/ml. The half-lives were 1.99 hours for CPZ, and 1.07 hours for SBT, respectively. In 6 hours after drip infusion of 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg 21.7, 37.0% of CPZ and 41.6, 85.6% of SBT were excreted in urine. Daily doses of about 50-90 mg/kg SBT/CPZ were administered by intravenous or drip infusion to 26 pediatric patients with acute infections such as lacunar tonsillitis, bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, suppurative diseases caused by Staphylococcus (staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome), purulent parotitis, cervical lymphadenitis, phlegmon and acute UTI related with ABPC/CPZ resistant beta lactamase producing E. coli. SBT/CPZ demonstrated the bacteriological effect on all the causative organisms. The clinical efficacy was also confirmed with the efficacy rate of 88.5%. No side effects were observed in all the cases though transient eosinophilia developed in 2 patients.     

Therapeutic effects of meropenem against severe infections in patients with hematopoietic disorders. Hanshin Study Group of Hematopoietic Disorders and Infection]

The efficacy and the safety of meropenem (MEPM), a newly developed carbapenem antibiotic, were investigated in 150 patients with severe infections complicated with hematopoietic disorders. 1. Clinical responses in 132 patients who were evaluable for effectiveness were excellent in 33 patients, good in 45, fair in 10 and poor in 44, with an efficacy rate of 59.1%. 2. The efficacy rate in patients who had previously been treated with the other antibiotics was 51.2%, while that in patients who had not been thus treated was 62.9%. 3. The efficacy rate in patients whose neutrophil counts increased during the therapy with MEPM was higher than that in patients whose neutrophil counts did not increase. The efficacy rate in patients whose neutrophil counts during the therapy were below 100/mm3 was 48.1%. 4. Out of 150 cases, side effects were observed in 4 patients, 3 with eruption and 1 with jaundice. Abnormalities in laboratory test results on liver functions were noted in 8 patients. These results indicate that MEPM is an effective and safe antibiotic for the treatment of severe infections in patients with hematopoietic disorders.