Pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime in febrile neutropenic patients

Eight patients,vith fever and neutropenia were given 2 g of ceftazidime i.v . as a bolus injection over the course of 3 min. The pharmacokinetic variab les for ceftazidime were similar to those found previously in febrile, acut ely ill, non-neutropenic patients. The area under the plasma-concentration- time curve mas significantly smaller, and the terminal half-life (t(1/2)lam bda (z)) significantly shorter, compared with elderly, healthy subjects (p < 0.005). Three patients survived long enough to be assayed after normaliza tion of temperature and neutrophil counts. Glomerular filtration rates and clearances tended to be higher and the area under the curve and half-life l ower on the day of fever and neutropenia. When considering our data in rela tion to known MIC values for common pathogens, ceftazidime administered int ermittently every 6 h seems an appropriate regimen in patients with febrile neutropenia. Larger studies are needed to confirm this.