Ceftriaxone versus aztreonam plus cefazolin for infections in cancer patients with adequate neutrophil counts

In a prospective randomized trial, 154 febrile episodes in cancer patients with adequate neutrophil counts (greater than 1,000 cells/mm3) were treated with either ceftriaxone (72 episodes) or aztreonam plus cefazolin (82 episodes). Documented infections represented almost half of the febrile episodes. The overall response rates among the 144 evaluable episodes were similar for the two regimens: 76% (51/67) with ceftriaxone versus 82% (63/77) with aztreonam plus cefazolin (p = 0.41, not significant). Although not statistically significant, the response rate of the microbiologically documented infections was slightly better in patients treated with the double beta-lactam combination (85% vs. 65%, p = 0.16) and clinically documented infections showed a better response in the group of patients receiving monotherapy (87% vs. 59%, p = 0.12). No serious adverse effects were observed during this study and both regimens were well tolerated. Ceftriaxone or the combination of aztreonam plus cefazolin showed a similar efficacy as empirical therapy for infections in cancer patients with adequate neutrophil counts.