Last update:
28-Jul-2000

Arch Hellen Med, 16(6), November-December 1999, 590–594

ORIGINAL PAPER

Comparative in vitro activity of cefepime
and ceftazidime
on multiresistant Enterobacter cloacae
and Klebsiella pneumoniae

H. SAMBATAKOU,¹ E.J. GIAMARELLOS-BOURBOULIS,² D. KAVATHA,³ H. GIAMARELLOU³

1Department of Special Infections, Athens General Hospital “G. Gennimatas”,
²1st Department of Propedeutic Medicine, Athens General Hospital “Laiko”,
³4th Department of Internal Medicine, Athens General Hospital “Sismanoglio”, Athens, Greece

OBJECTIVE Infectious diseases by nosocomial enterobacteriaceae including Enterobacter spp and Klebsiella spp showing resistance to third generation cephalosporins, to aminoglycosides and to newer quinolones are nowadays a worldwide threat. Cefepime is a broad spectrum fourth generation cephalosporin, resistant to hydrolysis by both chromosomal-mediated and plasmid-mediated β-lactamases, which might be administered for the thera py of infections by these strains.
METHOD The in vitro activity of cefepime was compared with that of ceftazidime on 84 nosocomial isolates of Enterobacter cloacae and on 100 of Klebsiella pneumoniae by determination of their Minimal Inhibitory and Bactericidal Concentrations (MICs and MBCs).
RESULTS Cefepime and ceftazidime inhibited 89% and 39% of K. pneumoniae isolates and 92.9% and 67.9% of E. cloacae isolates respectively. MIC and MBC levels of cefepime were in general 16–64 times higher than those of ceftazidime. Cefepime inhibited 81.7% and 77.8% respectively of Κ. pneumoniae and E. cloacae isolates which were resistant to ceftazidime.
CONCLUSIONS Cefepime appears to be a promising newer compound for the therapy of nosocomial infections by enterobacteriaceae resistant to third generation cephalosporins.

Key words: Cefepime, Ceftazidime, Enterobacteriaceae, Resistant strains.