Amikacin + Ceftazidime Therapy of Experimental Right-Sided Pseudomonas aeruginosa Endocarditis in Rabbits

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Abstract
We investigated the efficacy of a potent new antipseudomonal /3-lactam agent, ceftazidime, in a model of right-sided Pseudomonas endocarditis in 72 rabbits. Animals received either: no therapy (controls), amikacin (15 mg/kg/day), ceftazidime (100 mg/kg/day) or amikacin + ceftazidime. Amikacin + ceftazidime was significantly more effective than single-drug regimens in terms of reduction of mortality (p < 0.01), prevention of pulmonary infarction (p < 0.05), reduction of mean vegetation titers of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p < 0.05-p < 0.0005), sterilization of vegetations (p < 0.0005) and reduction in prevalence of bacteriologic relapses after therapy (p < 0.005). There was no development of resistance in vivo to either amikacin or ceftazidime.