Evaluation of ceftazidime in the treatment of 80 infectious episodes in compromised children.

The efficacy of ceftazidime in the treatment of infections in compromised children was evaluated in 80 such episodes occurring in 64 patients with various underlying diseases. Among the patients treated, 9 were newborns with severe neonatal distress, 21 were children with cancer and neutropenia, 8 were surgical patients, 22 had cystic fibrosis and 4 were suffering from meningitis. The following types of infections were treated: 19 bacteriologically documented and 8 possible septicemias (the latter only in newborns and neutropenic cancer patients); 2 severe upper respiratory tract infections in cancer patients; 8 soft tissue or skin infections; 1 cholangitis; 1 pneumonia; 1 osteomyelitis; 1 mediastinitis; 35 infectious exacerbations of underlying pulmonary disease in cystic fibrosis patients; and 4 meningitides.

[Advantages of a permanent venous access in children treated for cancer. Preliminary results].

Current therapy for children with cancer includes a variety of invasive procedures many of which require repeated venous access over a considerable period of time. Such procedures are poorly tolerated by children and by their veins. Recently it has become possible to undertake the majority of such procedures by means of permanent indwelling silastic catheters improving the quality of life of the children and their parents and increasing the scope of therapeutic intervention.