Observation on clinical effects of cefepime in treating lower respiratory tract infections of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases

Objective: To observe the efficacy and safety of cefepime in treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with lower respiratory tract infections. Methods: 65 patients were randomized into two groups. Patients were treated with cefepime 2 g, iv gtt, q 12 h, for 7- 14 d in therapeutic group (n = 32), and ceftazidime 2 g, iv gtt q 12 h in control group(n = 33). Results: In cefepime group, the cure rate was 68. 6% , the effective rate 90. 6% , the bacterial eradication rate 91. 2% . In ceftazidime group, the cure rate was 60.6% , the effective rate 87. 9% ,the bacterial eradication rate 90.3% , there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. The susceptibility rates of bacteria to cefepime (89.2%) were higher than those of cef-tazidine (78.5%, P0.05) and cefotaxime (75.4%, P0.05). Conclusions: The antibacterial activity of cefepime is stronger than that of ceftzidime. Cefepime is effective and safe in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infection patients with COPD.