Studies of a patient isolator unit and prophylactic antibiotics in cancer chemotherapy. General techniques and preliminary results

A patient isolator unit (Life Island) has been evaluated in 13 patients with neoplastic disease. Three oral nonabsorbable antibiotic regimens were used and the patients were fed sterile food. The combination of vancomycin, paromomycin, polymyxin B and amphotericin B or nystatin was well tolerated and effective. Most patients tolerated confinement in the unit quite well, although four very ill patients developed mental aberrations. Weight loss occurred in most patients but was largely due to toxicity from cancer chemotherapy. Infections did occur in the unit but the incidence was lower than would be anticipated. Five of nine patients with acute myelogenous leukemia achieved complete marrow remission and one achieved a partial remission. Three patients in the unit were able to tolerate more intensive chemotherapy than has been customarily given.