Treatment of infections, especiaiiy septicemia in hematological patients with HBK

HBK, a new aminoglycoside, was evaluated clinically for 19 infections of patients with hematological diseases. HBK was administrated mainly by one-hour drip intravenous infusion at a daily dose 100—400 mg for 3 to 23 days. Daily dose and duration of HBK therapy were modified according to the patient's condition. After one-hour drip intravenous infusion of 100 mg HBK, maximum blood concentrations were distributed from 4.42 µg/ml to 10.98 µg/ml. Two cases with septicemia, 6 possible septicemia and 4 other infections were treated with HBK alone, and 3 septcemia and 4 possible septicemia were treated with HBK combined with other chemotherapy. All 5 cases with septicemia responded to HBK alone or combination chemotherapy In 10 cases with possible septicemia, the clinical response to HBK alone and combination therapy were observed in 4 and 1, respectively. The cases with other infections all responded to HBK alone. The overall response rate was 72%, no significant side effect was observed after the administration of HBK. From the above results, HBK was expected to be useful in the treatment of infection, especially septicemia, of hematological patients.