Pseudallescheria boydii brain abscess: association with near-drowning and efficacy of high-dose, prolonged miconazole therapy in patients with multiple abscesses.

Brain abscess caused by Pseudallescheria boydii is a highly lethal infection, usually seen in immunosuppressed patients. Five patients with P. boydii brain abscesses are described. Four of these patients acquired their infection after near-drowning; 1 patient developed an abscess after penetrating head trauma. Two patients survived their infections, which included involvement of other body sites (lung, eye, bone) as well as multiple undrained brain abscesses, after prolonged courses of high-dose parenteral miconazole (80-90 mg/kg/d). Progressive increases in miconazole dosage during the treatment periods were required to produce serum levels above the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the fungal isolates.

Emergence of resistance in gram-negative bacteria during therapy with expanded-spectrum cephalosporins.

To assess the clinical importance of emergence of beta-lactam resistance caused by stable derepression of chromosomal beta-lactamases, sequential cultures from patients treated with expanded-spectrum cephalosporins were monitored for the persistence of bacteria possessing these enzymes. Antibiotic susceptibilities and beta-lactamase production before and after cefoxitin induction were determined in sequential isolates of individual bacterial strains. Of 49 strains isolated from 44 patients, 25 strains (51%) were eradicated by cephalosporin therapy, 17 strains (35%) persisted with unchanged susceptibility in sequential cultures, and 7 strains (14%) from 7 patients developed multiple beta-lactam resistance during cephalosporin therapy. In 6 of the 7 strains, resistance was associated with stable derepression of beta-lactamases. In the patient group whose strains developed resistance, subsequent use of non-beta-lactam antibiotics was more frequent and mortality was higher.

Randomised comparison of ceftriaxone and cefamandole therapy in lower respiratory tract infections in an elderly population.

Patients with pneumonia or bronchitis were randomized to receive ceftriaxone or cefamandole. A total of 30 of 38 patients were evaluable, 16 in the ceftriaxone group (average age 66.3 years) and 14 in the cefamandole group (average age 69.4 years). All but one had underlying diseases. Patients usually received 1 g of ceftriaxone intravenously every 12 h (mean duration 8.7 days) or 1.5 g of cefamandole intravenously every 6 h (mean duration 8.2 days). Adverse experiences attributable to the drugs were confined to one episode of discomfort at the infusion site in each group. Bacteriological results with ceftriaxone were 83% cured, 11% superinfected after eradication of pretherapy isolate, and 6% failed. Bacteriological results with cefamandole were 76% cured, 24% failed. Clinical results with ceftriaxone were 38% cured, 56% improved, 6% failed. Clinical results with cefamandole were 57% cured, 21% improved, 21% failed. Emergence of a resistant Serratia marcescens was seen in a ceftriaxone-treated patient. Disc diffusion susceptibility testing identified six of the seven pretherapy nonfastidious Gram-negative isolates as susceptible; however, two of the six could not be eradicated with the assigned drug and another two were eradicated with ensuing super-infection with susceptible isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In contrast, MBCs were an accurate guide to clinical outcome with nonfastidious Gram-negative bacilli.

Randomized, double-blind comparison of ceftazidime and moxalactam in complicated urinary tract infections.

Sixty-seven patients with complicated urinary tract infections were randomized in double-blind fashion to ceftazidime or moxalactam (MOX). A total of 54 patients were evaluable, 27 in each group. Patients received 500 mg of antibiotic intravenously every 12 h, except for those with Pseudomonas aeruginosa randomized to MOX who received 2 g intravenously every 12 h. Toxic effects with ceftazidime were experienced by the following number of patients: pain with infusion, one; posttherapy diarrhea, one; liver function test elevations, two; and neutropenia, one. Toxic effects with MOX were experienced by the following number of patients: liver function test elevations, two; and prolonged prothrombin time, one. All resolved. At 1 week posttherapy, bacteriologic results were 74% cured, 11% relapsed, 15% reinfection with ceftazidime and 52% cured, 33% relapsed, and 19% reinfection with MOX. Ceftazidime was effective for infections caused by MOX-resistant P. aeruginosa. P. aeruginosa resistant to MOX and other beta-lactams was isolated from one patient after MOX therapy. Enterococcal reinfection was common in both groups.

Evaluation of Sch 29,482 in the eradication of Neisseria meningitidis from nasopharyngeal carriers.

Fifty-eight chronic carriers of Neisseria meningitidis were given 250 mg of Sch 29,482 or placebo orally every 6 h for 4 days. Although 22 of 29 subjects taking Sch 29,482 became culture negative while taking the drug, only five were culture negative 2 weeks posttherapy. There were no significant adverse reactions.