The DiBella multitherapy trial - Randomised controlled trials may not always be absolutely needed

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Leukopenia with neutropenia associated with teicoplanin therapy

The first case report of leukopenia with neutropenia due to the new glycopeptide antibiotic teicoplanin is described. The side effect occurred in a 73-year-old man hospitalized because of subacute bacterial endocarditis caused by Streptococcus faecalis. Leukopenia with neutropenia (white blood cells 2000/mm3, neutrophils 46%) developed after 20 days of teicoplanin therapy. After stopping teicoplanin white blood cell and neutrophil counts reverted to normal, but dropped again on rechallenge. A review of 1500 records of patients treated with teicoplanin alone or in combination with other drugs was also performed. Five cases were found in which leukopenia was possibly (four cases) or probably (one case) related to teicoplanin therapy. From these preliminary data the incidence of leukopenia related to teicoplanin seems to be low

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

Adjuvant systemic therapies in women with breast cancer: an audit of clinical practice in Italy

Evidence-based guidelines, consensus conferences and experts' opinion are rarely promptly transferred to patient care. We audited prescriptions of adjuvant systemic therapies for Italian breast cancer patients and compared them with recommendations of an International Consensus Panel