Effect of aztreonam on throat and stool flora of cancer patients.

Eighteen patients with hematological malignancies received aztreonam in one of two dosing regimens, 1 or 2 g every 8 h for a total of 7 to 9 days. Throat and stool cultures were obtained before and during treatment with aztreonam. Aztreonam had little effect on the predominant throat flora. In contrast, facultatively anaerobic gram-negative bacilli were markedly decreased in stools during the administration of aztreonam. Strict anaerobes in the stool were variably affected by aztreonam.