[Clinical evaluation of ceftazidime in the treatment of pediatric infections].

Ceftazidime (CAZ) was evaluated for its safety and efficacy in 31 children. Of the 25 confirmed bacterial infections, 23 were cured by the CAZ therapy (efficacy rate, 92%). CAZ was assessed as effective in acute pharyngitis with vomiting (4), acute laryngitis (1), pneumonia (8), urinary tract infections (5), acute gastroenteritis (1), infection accompanying acute leukemia (septicemia suspected) (1), acute purulent meningitis (2) and abscess of the lateral cervical cyst (1). The main pathogens which responded to CAZ were H. influenzae, S. pyogenes, E. coli and P. aeruginosa. As adverse events, mild melena with prolonged prothrombin time (1) was found to be associated with the CAZ therapy. Half-life of the CAZ serum level was 0.97 +/- 0.10 hours, and urinary excretion was high. Penetration into the CSF in 2 cases of acute purulent meningitis was satisfactory. The data suggest that CAZ is a safe and effective injectable antibiotic when used in children with infections of CAZ-susceptible bacteria including P. aeruginosa.