• Change in forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) between the beginning and the end of the IV antibiotic course, expressed as a percentage of the predicted normal value
  

• the interval between 2 successive IV antibiotic courses
  
• quality of life scores
  
• sputum collected at the beginning and the end of each antibiotic course
  
• plasma ceftazidime concentration at steady state (Css) for ceftazidime continuous infusion, and before (C trough), 30 minutes (Cmax) and 4 hours after (C4) the beginning of ceftazidime short infusion
  
• C-reactive protein, leukocytes and hepatic enzymes levels at the beginning and the end of each IV antibiotic course
  

Each patient received two successive IV antibiotic courses during a period of pulmonary exacerbation. One of these courses was delivered as thrice daily 30-minute infusions of ceftazidime in 100 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride, and the other was delivered as a continuous infusion of ceftazidime in 230 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride, over 23 hours. The daily dose of ceftazidime was 200 mg/kg, with a maximum dose of 12 g. For ceftazidime continuous infusion, a loading dose of 60 mg/kg (maximum 2 g) was used. All patients also received tobramycin (10 mg/kg), in the form of one 30-minute infusion per day. Portable devices were used: Intermate® SV 200 (Baxter) for the 30-minute short infusions of ceftazidime and tobramycin, Infusor® LV10 (Baxter) for continuous infusion of ceftazidime.