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Prophylaxis with ofloxacin in patients with cancer and neutropenia

Prophylaxe mit Ofloxacin bei neutropenischen Patienten mit Krebs

Infection volume 19, pages 462–464 (1991)Cite this article

Summary

The suppression of potentially pathogenic microorganisms using prophylactic antibacterial treatment could eventually protect the patient from infection. Oral absorbable and non-absorbable antibacterial agents have been used with variable results. In the present study, 47 patients with cancer and neutropenia received oral ofloxacin 200 mg twice daily prophylactically. All patients were previously treated with antineoplastic chemotherapy. Septicemia developed in ten patients (21%). The number of infections was higher in patients with a level of granulocytopenia under 0.5×109/l. Infection was caused in almost all patients by gram-positive organisms. Prophylaxis with ofloxacin provided efficacious protection against gram-negative bacteria and was well tolerated.

Zusammenfassung

Die Unterdrückung potentiell pathogener Mikroorganismen durch antibakterielle Prophylaxe kann den Patienten möglicherweise vor einer Infektion schützen. Oral absorbierbare und nicht absorbierbare antibakterielle Substanzen wurden mit wechselnden Ergebnissen eingesetzt. In der vorliegenden Studie wurden 47 Krebspatienten in der neutropenischen Phase 200 mg Ofloxacin zweimal täglich oral verabreicht. Alle Patienten hatten vorher eine antitumorale Chemotherapie erhalten. Bei zehn Patienten (21%) entwickelte sich eine Sepsis. Bei Patienten mit Granulozytenzahlen unter 0,5×109/l traten Infektionen häufiger auf. Bei fast allen Patienten wurden die Infektionen durch grampositive Erreger verursacht. Die Prophylaxe mit Ofloxacin bot einen wirksamen Schutz gegen gramnegative Infektionen und wurde gut vertragen.

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  1. Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Haartmanikatu 4, SF-00290, Helsinki, Finland

    A. G. Maiche M.D.

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  1. A. G. Maiche M.D.
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Maiche, A.G. Prophylaxis with ofloxacin in patients with cancer and neutropenia. Infection 19, 462–464 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01726467

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01726467

Keywords

  • Neutropenia
  • General Practice
  • Family Medicine
  • Ofloxacin
  • Antibacterial Agent