Treatment of pulmonary infections in patients with cystic fibrosis: a comparative study of ticarcillin and gentamicin.

The effectiveness of ticarcillin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in acute exacerbations of pulmonary 
infection in patients with cystic fibrosis was evaluated. Seventy-one percent of 
patients treated with ticarcillin alone responded favorably. The response rate was 
similar in patients treated with a combination of ticarcillin plus gentamicin 
or with gentamicin alone. Severity of the underlying disease was the 
most important determinant of response to treatment. Ticarcillin- resistant organisms were 
recovered during treatment in 50% of patients who received this drug; 
recovery of them was not prevented by the inclusion of gentamicin 
in the therapeutic regimen nor did they interfere with clinical improvement. 
The ticarcillin-resistant strains persisted at follow-up, two to six months after 
completion of therapy, in only one of ten patients. No serious 
toxicity to ticarcillin was noted during the study period. 