Purpose: The use of a continuous infusion of a β-lactam antibiotic in combination with high-dose, extended-interval amino-glycoside therapy for eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an adult patient with cystic fibrosis (CF) is reported.
Summary: Testing of an expectorated sputum sample taken during routine evaluation of a 32-year-old woman with CF isolated P. aeruginosa; the patient's medical record indicated no prior episodes of P. aeruginosa colonization. In an initial attempt to eradicate the organism, the woman received outpatient therapy with oral ciprofloxacin twice daily combined with an aminoglycoside (tobramycin solution) by nebulization twice daily. After a culture four weeks later again isolated P. aeruginosa, the patient was hospitalized, and i.v. antimicrobial therapy was initiated. The inpatient treatment regimen consisted of continuous-infusion cefepime 6 g (100 mg/kg/24 hr) and i.v. tobramycin 700 mg (12 mg/kg/24 hr), with both drugs administered via a peripherally inserted central catheter, for two weeks. A bronchoalveolar lavage fluid culture performed two months after completion of the i.v. antimicrobial regimen, as well as several sputum cultures obtained during the subsequent three years, tested negative for P. aeruginosa.
Conclusion: The administration of continuous-infusion cefepime and high-dose, extended-interval tobramycin led to the successful eradication of P. aeruginosa in an adult patient with CF.