Efficacy of moxifloxacin (Avelox) in prophylaxis of infection in patients with profound neutropenia]

Comparative efficacy of moxifloxacin and ciprofloxacin as prophylactics of infection in cancer patients with severe neutropenia after the chemotherapy was studied. The study included 40 patients with malignant lymphomas and solid tumore who received 52 courses of the aggressive chemotherapy. Twenty four patients (30 courses) received oral moxifloxacin in a dose of 400 mg once a day from the first day of the neutrophil count decrease below 1.0 x 10(9)/l until its recovery to > 1.0 x 10(9)/l or when the signs of infection appeared. In the control group 16 patients (22 courses) received oral ciprofloxacin in a dose of 500 mg twice a day. The patients in both the groups were compatible by the diagnosis, age and neutropenia duration. The median of the days of the febrile neutropenia duration in the patients prophylactically treated with moxifloxacin was statistically lower (2.1 vs 3.6 in the control group, p < 0.05). The incidence of febrile neutropenia in the moxifloxacin group was significantly lower than that in the control group (73 and 100% respectively, p = 0.01). The incidence of bacteriologically confirmed infection in the moxifloxacin group was also lower (6% vs 27.2%, p = 0.04). Therefore, moxifloxacin proved to be a more efficient agent vs ciprofloxacin (standard prophylactic) in prevention of febrile neutropenia and neutropenic infection in cancer patients, which is likely due to its higher activity against grampositive organisms.     

Cefepime in the treatment of infection in neutropenic patients]

Cefepime, a fourth-generation cephalosporin, was used in the treatment of 11 febrile episodes in 8 patients with profound neutropenia. The patients were neutropenic because of high-dose chemotherapy with stem-cell rescue or second-line salvage chemotherapy for malignant lymphomas (5 patients) or solid tumors (3 patients). The median duration of grade-IV neutropenia (according to the WHO classification) was 11 days (7 to 14). Cefepime was used as the monotherapy in a dose of 2 g thrice daily. Disappearance of the infection signs was recorded in 8 episodes (73 per cent). In 3 episodes (23 per cent) cefepime was replaced by another drug. The tolerability of cefepime was good and no adverse events were observed with the exception of 1 event of an allergic reaction.     

Prophylaxis of fungal infection in patients with hematologic neoplasms and severe neutropenia after high-dose chemotherapy]

Infection is one of the main causes of death in patients with hemoblastoses. Within the last years there was observed an increase in the ratio of fungal infections in the structure of mortality among hematologic patients with neutropenia. The present study was aimed at comparative estimation of the efficacy of the prophylactic use of various azole antifungal agents in patients with hematologic neoplasms and severe neutropenia. The trial enrolled 88 patients comparable by the diagnosis and chemotherapy characteristics, in whom severe neutropenia developed after intensive therapy. Antifungal drugs were used prophylactically when the neutrophil count lowered below 1.0 x 10(9)/l until its increasing above 1.0 x 10(9)/l or when the signs of fungal infection were evident. Itraconazole was used in cyclodextrin solution in 30 patients in a dose of 0.2 g orally twice a day and fluconazole was used in capsules in 24 patients in a dose of 0.2 g orally once a day. The results were compared with those of the ketoconazole use in a dose of 0.2 g orally twice a day (n = 34). The frequency of fungal infection proved by the clinical documentation was 20.5% in the ketoconazole group (k) (7 out of 34 patients), 8.3% in the fluconazole group (f) (2 out of 24 patients) and 6.6% in the itraconazole group (i) (2 out of 30 patients), p (k-f) = 0.21, p (k-i) = 0.11 and p (f-i) = 0.74. The frequency of fungal infection proved by the microbiological documentation was statistically much higher in the ketoconazole group (38.2%) vs. the fluconazole group (8.3%) (p = 0.013) and the itraconazole group (6.6%) (p = 0.004). The prophylactic use of itraconazole and fluconazole was efficient in preventing development of invasive mycoses in the patients with hemoblastoses and severe neutropenia. Their efficacy was much higher than that of ketoconazole.     

Treatment and prevention of infections in cancer patients with neutropenia

Prognosis of malignant diseases is significantly influenced by infectious morbidity and mortality. Thus, up to date management of cancer patients, in addition to other supportive care modalities, should also incorporate diagnostic methods and therapy of infections. In order to improve outcome, patients developing febrile neutropenia following antitumour treatment should be adequately informed regarding the risk of infections. At the same time, centres responsible for cancer patient care should set up written protocols for basic workup and empirical antibiotic therapy. Here general characteristics of neutropenic infections developing in solid tumour patients are outlined and key points for risk assessment are highlighted. In addition, options and limits of anti-infective therapy as well as prophylaxis of infections are reviewed. Importance of a fully functional institutional infection control system and multidisciplinary patient management is also emphasised.     

Vancomycin resistant enterococci in etiology of neutropenic enterocolitis: prophylaxis, clinical signs and treatment]

Neutropenic enterocolitis is a severe complication of high dose chemotherapy in patients with hematologic tumors. Forty two cases of neutropenia due to intensive chemotherapy were analysed. In 6 patients severe enterocolitis with atony and hemorrhage and isolation of vancomycin resistant enterococci from the stool specimens was recorded.     

Antibiotic prophylaxis with amoxicillin/clavulinate (Augmentin) in extended and combined operations in gynecologic cancer patients]

Frequency of postoperation complications at oncological patients deviates in the range from 10 to 70 per cent. The highest frequency of infectious complications is registered after extended and complex operations (cervical carcinoma, cancer of vulva, ovarian cancer). The most frequent aerobic pathogens in oncology are enterococci, staphylococci and streptococci, in the case of urinary tract operations--enterococci and Erscherichia coli. Perioperation prophylaxis with amoxycillin/clavulanate (Augmentin) effective against this microorganisms and also against anaerobic bacteria (usual pathogens of post operation infections in oncogynecology) resulted with lower frequency of wound infections. Demonstrated prophylaxy efficacy was more potent than that of cefotaxime (p < 0.05) or when compared to results of other antibiotics administration after operations only.     

Evaluation of amixine reactivity and efficacy for prophylaxis of acute respiratory tract infections]

Amixine reactivity and tolerability were evaluated in controlled trial at the risk group of medical personal at the period of flu and respiratory viral infection season. Drugs safety was estimated according to anamnesis, direct observation and hemogram. High efficacy of the drug for the infections prophylaxis and treatment was demonstrated. The drug was well tolerated and had no side effects. Amixine unreactivity was proved.     

Plasma lactoferrin in patients with neutropenia

This study examines the role of plasma lactoferrin in the assessment of neutropenia. In particular, we have studied lactoferrin as an inhibitor of granulopoiesis and as an indicator of the size of the total blood granulocyte pool (TBGP). Plasma lactoferrin concentration was determined in a heterogeneous group of 30 patients with neutropenia. Serial plasma lactoferrin levels in a patient with cyclic neutropenia correlated with the cycles of the neutrophil count. Patients with splenomegaly had a grossly elevated lactoferrin:neutrophil ratio. Most chronic idiopathic neutropenia patients had no real clinical problems and a normal plasma lactoferrin level. The results provide further evidence to support the concept that plasma lactoferrin indicates the size of the TBGP and the lactoferrin: neutrophil ratio indicates the degree of granulocyte margination. There was no evidence to suggest that lactoferrin acting as a feedback inhibitor of granulopoiesis caused neutropenia in these patients.     

Thoughts about thromboembolic events prophylaxis in cancer patients

The risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) in cancer patients is higher than in the general population. Treatment may also increase this risk in these patients. Based on the appropriate criteria (of which the most important are the current ministerial guidelines) thrombosis prophylaxis should be started (given that there is no contraindication) on these patients and be continued while they are at risk. In the event of permanent risk thrombosis prophylaxis should be given lifelong. The drug of choice is low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) which is safer and more effective than the oral vitamin K antagonists. Platelet aggregation inhibitors have proved unsuccessful in this patient group. The evidence so far suggests that LMWH (during VTE prophylaxis) can have a positive impact on the course of cancer and perhaps it will be registered under the indication section for cancer patients in the future.     

Oral administration of pectins for prophylaxis and treatment of purulent septic complications in patients with burns]

Clinical and laboratory evaluation of pectins application efficacy demonstrated that the patients treated with pectines has lower frequency of bacteriemia, intoxication, infectious complications and lethality. Pectins use per os resulted by acceleration of burns wounds healing and by lower microbial dissemination. Frequency of coagulase-positive staphylococci, streptococci and enterococci isolation was also lower in the treated group of patients when compared to the control group. Feces microbial profile also demonstrated positive trend--normal microflora (bifidobacteria and lactobacilli) enhanced, opportunistic bacteria diminished. Pectins application provided normalization of leucocytes, lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, immunoglobulins A and G. The results of investigation demonstrated pectins efficacy at the complex treatment regimes of the patients with burns.     

Cefepime treatment efficacy in surgical patients]

Clinical and bacteriologial efficacies of cefepime were studied in the treatment of 20 surgical patients. Intraoperative prophylaxis is with the use of cefepime alone and postoperative prophylaxis with the use of cefepime in combination with some other drugs were applied to 10 patients. No postoperative complications in the group of the 10 patients were stated. The other 10 patients were subjected to intraoperative and postoperative combined prophylaxis with some other antibiotics. In 6 patients of the latter group postoperative complications developed. Obvious clinical advantages of cefepime were demonstrated.