Clinical and bacteriological evaluation of amikacin in severe gram-negative infections.

Amikacin was administered to 51 patients with serious Gram-negative infections. A favorable clinical outcome was observed in 32 patients (62 per cent). No major untoward effects were noted. The severity of the underlying disease and the site of the infection were important for the outcome. Urinary tract infections responded in 21 (78 per cent) out of 27 patients, but bronchopulmonary infections responded in only 3 out of 10 patients (30 per cent). The degree of antibacterial activity of the serum of the patients receiving amikacin was found to be related to the outcome. An activity greater than or equal to 1/8 was associated with 78 per cent of favorable responses and was found more often in patients receiving 1500 mg daily.