Position of ceftazidime in respiratory diseases.

Twenty patients (10 males and 10 females), ranging in age from 53 to 81 years, were treated with ceftazidime, 2-3 g/day i.m., for 12 to 15 days. All patients were suffering from moderate to severe infections of the lower respiratory tract (6 cases of pneumonia and 14 cases of acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis). In addition, almost all patients presented severe local and general predisposing factors (three patients with lung cancer, two with bronchiectasis and 14 with respiratory insufficiency). The aetiological agents responsible for the infections were mainly Gram-negative bacteria (6 Klebsiella pneumoniae, 4 Haemophilus influenzae, 4 Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 3 Proteus strains). The clinical and microbiological results of the treatment were good. With the exception of one case of maculopapular rash, none of the patients complained of adverse reactions and no toxic effects were observed.