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.