Pharmacokinetic and clinical studies of ceftazidime in perinatal period

Pharmacokinetic studies and clinical evaluations of ceftazidime (CAZ) were carried out in perinatal mothers and infants, and following results were obtained. The CAZ was promptly absorbed after intravenous injection or intravenous drip infusion in pregnant women, producing dose-related peak serum levels. Placental transference to the fetus was good. After intravenous injection or intravenous drip infusion of 1.0-2.0 g of CAZ, drug concentration in umbilical serum and amniotic fluid exceeded MICs of CAZ against main pathogenic organisms. Levels of CAZ in umbilical serum ranged 0.2-15.6 micrograms/ml after 1.0 g intravenous injection or intravenous drip infusion, and 0.7-27.2 micrograms/ml after 2.0 g intravenous injection, and those in amniotic fluid were 1.4-21.3 micrograms/ml after 1.0 g administration and 2.0-27.0 micrograms/ml after 2.0 g administration. According to the above results, it is possible to successfully prevent or treat perinatal infections by twice a day administration of CAZ at 1.0-2.0 g/dose. Clinically, CAZ was effective in the treatment of perinatal infections and the prophylaxis of intrauterine amniotic infection without any side effect. Moreover, newborn infants delivered from mothers receiving CAZ treatment did not have any abnormalities in laboratory test. The penetration of CAZ into mother's milk was low, thus the transfer of CAZ from milk to newborn infants should be low. The above results demonstrated that CAZ is a clinically useful antibiotic for the prophylaxis and the treatment of perinatal infections.