[Selective decontamination of intestinal flora with oral aztreonam in compromised children].

Effects of oral aztreonam on fecal flora were studied in 6 compromised children. Their ages ranged from 4 to 14 years. Daily doses of aztreonam were 10 to 30 mg/kg. The stool specimens were obtained before the treatment, on day 5 to 7 of aztreonam use and 2 to 5 days after the cessation of treatment. The counts of enterobacteria decreased from 10(7.7) to 10(4.4) per gram of wet feces (p less than 0.01), and bifidobacteria also decreased from 10(10.2) to 10(8.4) per gram of wet feces (p less than 0.01) during aztreonam administration. Those of streptococci increased from 10(2.9) to 10(9.4) per gram of wet feces (p less than 0.001). The other anaerobic organisms showed no marked change. Based upon the above results, we conclude that oral administration of aztreonam may be useful for selective decontamination of intestinal flora in compromised hosts.