Ticarcillin Therapy of Infections

Ticarcillin was administered as initial therapy during 73 episodes of infections occurring in 69 adults with neoplastic diseases. During the first six infections, doses of 5 gm were dissolved in 200 ml of solvent and administered intravenously over a 2-h period every 6 h. Four of six infections responded to therapy. However, two of the five Pseudomonas infections failed to respond, whereas the organisms causing the infection were sensitive to ticarcillin in vitro. During the remaining 67 infections, doses of 3.5 g were similarly dissolved and administered intravenously over a 2-h period every 4 h. The overall response to ticarcillin in these 67 infections was 43%. However, 18 of 20 Pseudomonas infections, three Proteus spp. infections, and one infection caused by H. influenzae responded. Only 1 of 7 infections caused by mixed organisms and 5 of 13 infections in which the etiologic agent could not be identified responded. Ticarcillin was ineffective against the majority of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. infections, organisms which were resistant to ticarcillin in vitro. The majority of patients were neutropenic, but the response rate was not dependent on the number of circulating polymorphonuclear neutrophilic leukocytes. Superinfection occurred in seven patients. Erythematous skin rash occurred in two patients, which subsided after discontinuation of the drug. No liver or renal toxicity occurred that could be attributed to ticarcillin.