Penetration of cefixime into fibrin clots and in vivo efficacy against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus.

The experimental model of infected fibrin clots in rabbits was used to study the penetration and in vivo activity of cefixime against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The respective MICs of cefixime against these strains were 0.25, 2, and 8 micrograms/ml. The clots were infected with 10(6) to 10(8) CFU/g. Groups of four animals for each strain received an intravenous injection of 100 mg of cefixime per kg over 30 min. High peak levels were observed in serum (146.5 micrograms/ml) and clots (15.8 micrograms/g), and the antibiotic was still detectable in the clots (0.6 micrograms/g) 24 h after administration. The respective serum and clot elimination half-lives were 0.7 and 5.0 h. The mean serum protein binding was 23.8 +/- 3.8%. Cefixime was highly bactericidal against K. pneumoniae and E. coli and reduced, over a 24-h period, their respective colony counts by 7.8 log10 and 6.2 log10 CFU/g of fibrin. It was less effective against S. aureus but still reduced the bacterial counts by 2.8 log10 CFU/g of fibrin. The present results demonstrate that cefixime, a new broad-spectrum oral cephalosporin, has a long tissue half-life which ensured, at the dose given here, good in vivo bactericidal activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria up to 24 h after administration of the antibiotic.     

Concentrations of ofloxacin in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients without meningitis receiving the drug intravenously and orally.

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) penetration of ofloxacin given orally or or intravenously was studied in cancer patients without meningitis. Each patient was assigned to a different sampling time to assess the relation between time and penetration. Ofloxacin was measured in serum and CSF by high-pressure liquid chromatography and bioassay. In addition, the bactericidal titers were measured in CSF and serum against a set of relevant bacteria. Concentrations measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography and bioassay were well correlated. Peak concentrations in CSF (0.4 to 1 microgram/ml) were observed 2 to 4 h after infusion or oral administration. Peak concentrations in serum were observed just after infusion (2 to 3.5 micrograms/ml) or 1 to 2 h after oral administration (1.7 to 4 micrograms/ml). Measured bactericidal titers were well correlated with the titers expected from the MBC and concentration. High CSF bactericidal titers were observed against Neisseria meningitidis, Haemophilus influenzae, and Escherichia coli, whereas low or no bactericidal titers were obtained against Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.     

Pharmacology of aztreonam after intravenous infusion

The pharmacokinetics of aztreonam, a monocyclic beta-lactam which inhibits most members of the family Enterobacteriaceae at concentrations of less than 1 microgram/ml and most Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates at concentrations of less than 16 micrograms/ml, were examined in healthy male volunteers after 30-min intravenous infusions of 0.5, 1, and 2 g of the drug. Mean peak levels of the drug in serum at the end of infusion were 65.5, 164, 255 micrograms/ml after 0.5 1, and 2 g, respectively, with levels of the drug in serum of 1.8, 3, and 8.5 micrograms/ml at 8.5 h for the three doses, respectively. The half-life was approximately 2 h for all three doses. The total serum clearance averaged 1 ml/min per kg. The apparent volume of distribution averaged 0.17 liter/kg for the three doses. Overall excretion of the drug in urine was 61%, with mean levels in urine of 23, 52, and 109 micrograms/ml at 8.5 to 12.5 h after 0.5, 1, and 2 g of aztreonam, respectively. Concentrations of the drug in serum after a 1-g dose exceeded the minimal inhibitory concentration for 90% of the members of the Enterobacteriaceae by four- to eightfold for 8 h and exceeded the minimal inhibitory concentration for P. aeruginosa isolates for 4 h.     

Pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime in infants and children with bacterial meningitis.

A total of 38 patients with bacterial meningitis received either 50 or 75 mg of cefuroxime per kg of body weight given as a 15-min intravenous infusion during the first to third days of therapy. The mean peak plasma concentrations of cefuroxime after doses of 50 and 75 mg/kg were 105 and 152 micrograms/ml, respectively. In five patients, pharmacokinetic values were determined after multiple doses of 50 mg of cefuroxime per kg every 6 h. The mean peak plasma concentrations were 120 micrograms/ml after the first dose and 130 micrograms/ml after the last dose. The concentrations at 6 h were 3.25 and 11.0 micrograms/ml after the first and last doses, respectively. The elimination half-life was approximately 1.5 h, and the apparent volume of distribution was 650 ml/kg. The plasma clearance rate was 195 to 198 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Penetration into the cerebrospinal fluid, expressed as the ratio of the cerebrospinal fluid to serum areas under the curve times 100, was 6.4% in patients given 50 mg of cefuroxime per kg and 10% in those who received 75 mg/kg. The cerebrospinal bactericidal activity in 27 patients was less than or equal to 1:8; only 2 patients had bactericidal activity of less than or equal to 1:2.     

Ex vivo study of serum bactericidal titers and killing rates of daptomycin (LY146032) combined or not combined with amikacin compared with those of vancomycin.

Twelve volunteers, in two groups of six, received daptomycin at a dose of 1 or 2 mg/kg. In addition, they received in a randomly allocated order amikacin (500 mg), daptomycin-amikacin, and vancomycin (500 mg). Thirty-five clinical isolates, including Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Corynebacterium sp. group JK, and Enterococcus faecalis, were tested in vitro for the measure of the serum bactericidal titers and killing rates. The mean peak concentrations of daptomycin in serum 1 h after the administration of 1 and 2 mg/kg were 11 and 20 micrograms/ml, respectively. At 24 h after the administration of 2 mg/kg, the mean level in serum was 1.9 micrograms/ml, which is higher than the MICs for susceptible pathogens. Daptomycin and amikacin provided identical concentrations in serum whether given alone or in combination. Among the six regimens tested, those including daptomycin provided the highest and the most prolonged serum bactericidal titers against S. aureus, S. epidermidis, and E. faecalis. The killing rates measured by the killing curves were correlated with the concentration/MIC and concentration/MBC ratios of daptomycin for all strains tested. Significant killing occurred once the concentration of daptomycin in the serum 4- to 6-fold the MIC or 1- to 1.2-fold the MBC. The combination of daptomycin and amikacin had no effect on either the serum bactericidal titers or the rates of killing. Only vancomycin provided significant killing of the strains of Corynebacterium sp. group JK.     

Comparison of the pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime and moxalactam and their microbiological correlates in volunteers.

We compared ceftazidime with moxalactam, a commonly utilized, currently available drug. The microbiological activities of ceftazidime and moxalactam were studied. In addition, single-dose pharmacokinetics and serum bactericidal activity 1 and 6 h after a 2.0-g, 30-min infusion of each drug were determined in a crossover study in human volunteers. In vitro, both drugs had MICs for 90% of the isolates of less than 1.0 microgram/ml against the common members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and of 8.0 micrograms/ml against Staphylococcus aureus. Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa ceftazidime was more active than moxalactam, the respective MICs for 90% of the isolates being 8 and 128 micrograms/ml. Mean half-lives were 1.75 (+/- 0.21) h for ceftazidime and 2.5 (+/- 0.38) h for moxalactam. The serum bactericidal titers for both compounds against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were high. Titers against S. aureus 6 h after infusion were negative. The mean (geometric) serum bactericidal titer of ceftazidime against 31 strains of P. aeruginosa (1:44) was higher than that of moxalactam (1:3.4).     

Ceftriaxone kinetics and cerebrospinal fluid penetration in infants and children with meningitis

20 patients (0.4-5.6 years old) receiving ceftriaxone for the treatment of bacterial meningitis were studied. Simultaneous serum and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of ceftriaxone were determined by HPLC in 15 patients at 11.4-12.8 h after an intravenous loading dose of 75 mg/kg. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations ranged from 20.5 to 44.9 (31.3 +/- 7.8) and from 1.1 to 8.0 (3.7 +/- 1.8) micrograms/ml, respectively. Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations ranged from 3 to 25% (12 +/- 6%) of the simultaneous serum concentrations. In 6 patients, serum and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations were determined after maintenance doses of 50 mg/kg/12 h. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations ranged from 120 to 144 and 2.3-4.9 micrograms/ml at 1.8-5.5 h after the first maintenance dose in 2 patients; 74-139 and 5.7-7.9 micrograms/ml at 1.3-5.8 h after the second dose in 3 patients and was 101 and 4.1 micrograms/ml at 4 h after the 3rd dose in 1 patient. Multiple blood samples were collected after the loading dose in 5 patients and after 9-10 days of maintenance doses in 3 patients. Steady-state peak and trough serum concentrations ranged from 295 to 440 and 32.6-44.8 micrograms/ml, respectively. After the loading and maintenance dose at steady-state, total body clearance averaged 1.17 and 0.64 ml/min (p = 0.01); apparent volume of distribution averaged 0.37 and 0.26 l/kg (p greater than 0.05); and elimination half-life averaged 3.7 and 4.6 h (p = 0.01), respectively. These results suggest that (1) adequate cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of ceftriaxone can be achieved in patients with meningitis with the dosage regimen studied.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Pharmacokinetics and serum bactericidal titers of ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin following multiple oral doses in healthy volunteers.

Fourteen adult males participated in a randomized three-way crossover study to compare the pharmacokinetics and serum bactericidal titers (SBTs) of 500 mg of ciprofloxacin (regimen A), 750 mg of ciprofloxacin (regimen B), and 400 mg of ofloxacin (regimen C) administered every 12 h for seven doses. Mean steady-state peak concentrations in serum for regimens A, B, and C were 3.0, 4.4, and 6.5 micrograms/ml, respectively (P < 0.01, all comparisons) and mean half-lives were 4.5, 4.3, and 6.5 h, respectively (P < 0.05, C versus A and B). Mean steady-state areas under the concentration-time curve were 14.1, 21.1, and 48.1 micrograms/h/ml for regimens A, B, and C, respectively (P < 0.05, all comparisons). SBTs were determined at different times postdose for three isolates each of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Mean steady-state peak SBTs for regimens A, B, and C, respectively, were as follows: S. pneumoniae, < 1:2, 1:8, 1:8, S. aureus, 1:16, 1:16, 1:16; E. coli, 1: > or = 128, 1: > or = 128, 1:64; E. cloacae, 1: > or = 128, 1: > or = 128, 1:64; P. aeruginosa, 1:8, 1:8, 1:2. These differences in SBTs within each genus were statistically significant. The majority of predicted SBTs were within one dilution of measured SBTs. Areas under the serum bactericidal time curves for E. coli, E. cloacae, and P. aeruginosa were significantly higher for ciprofloxacin; areas under the serum bactericidal time curves for S. pneumoniae and S. aureus were significantly greater for ofloxacin. Ofloxacin achieved higher concentrations in serum than ciprofloxacin, but differences in in vitro activity were a more important determinant of SBTs.     

Penetration of cefoxitin into cerebrospinal fluid of infants and children with bacterial meningitis.

Three consecutive doses of 75 mg of cefoxitin per kg were given intravenously every 6 h (225 mg/kg), in addition to penicillin or ampicillin, to 24 patients on days 4 and 5 and 9 and 10 of therapy for meningitis. Haemophilus influenzae b was isolated from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 21 patients, Streptococcus pneumoniae from 2 patients, and Neisseria meningitidis from 1 patient. The median minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of cefoxitin for 16 isolates of H. influenzae b were 0.312 and 0.625 micrograms/ml, respectively. Sixteen of 18 isolates of H. influenzae b and S. pneumoniae were killed by 2.5 micrograms of cefoxitin per ml. Mean levels in CSF peaked at 1 h at 6 and 4.9 micrograms/ml on days 5 and 10, respectively. CSF levels on days 5 and 10 were greater than or equal to twice the median minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentration in 20 and 18 patients, respectively. However, bacterial levels in CSF were greater than or equal to 2.5 micrograms/ml in only 11 of 23 patients on days 5 and 10. No significant adverse effects were found. These data indicate that at this dosage, cefoxitin may not reach levels in the CSF required for killing all susceptible strains of H. influenzae b and S. pneumoniae.     

Single- and multiple-dose metronidazole kinetics

Kinetics of metronidazole and its metabolites were examined after single oral and intravenous doses and multiple oral doses in seven subjects by a sensitive HPLC assay. After 400 mg metronidazole IV, mean Vd beta was 1.05 l/kg. Mean plasma t1/2 was 8.3 hr with a ClTBC of 1.31 ml/min/kg. Clearance to the major metabolites, 2-hydroxy-metronidazole and 1-acetic acid metronidazole, accounted for over 90% of the ClTBC. After a single oral 400-mg metronidazole dose, the development of peak metronidazole plasma concentrations of 6.9 micrograms/ml averaged 2.3 hr after dosing. Systemic oral bioavailability was complete (98.9%). During twice-daily multiple metronidazole dosing, 400 mg, metronidazole kinetics were the same. Elimination t1/2 was 8.3 hr and average predicted steady-state metronidazole concentrations during one dosing interval (6.3 +/- 0.5 micrograms/ml; mean +/- SE) were equal to the observed concentrations (6.9 +/- 1 micrograms/ml). Urinary excretion of unchanged metronidazole was below 10% of the total dose. Seventy-five percent of the dose was 2-hydroxy-metronidazole and 1-acetic acid metronidazole, and 15% was conjugates of metronidazole and 2-hydroxy-metronidazole.     

Roxithromycin disposition in tonsils after single and repeated administrations.

Levels of roxithromycin in serum and tissue were investigated in 29 subjects undergoing tonsillectomy. A total of 13 subjects received a single oral dose of 300 mg, and 16 received four oral doses 12 h apart as follows: a 300-mg loading dose followed by three 150-mg doses. Measurable levels of roxithromycin were present in tonsil samples of 11 of 13 subjects in the first group. The mean levels in tonsils and serum were 0.8 microgram/g and 6.7 micrograms/ml, resulting in a mean tissue/serum ratio of 0.16. In the multiple-dose group, roxithromycin was found in 14 of 16 subjects at mean levels in tonsils and serum of 1.6 micrograms/g and 8.7 micrograms/ml, and the tissue/serum ratio was 0.23.     

Pharmacokinetics, serum inhibitory and bactericidal activity, and safety of telavancin in healthy subjects

The pharmacokinetics, tolerability, and serum inhibitory and bactericidal titers of telavancin, a new rapidly bactericidal lipoglycopeptide with multiple mechanisms of action against gram-positive pathogens, were assessed in a two-part, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, ascending-dose study with 54 healthy men. In part 1, single ascending intravenous doses of 0.25 to 15 mg/kg of body weight were studied. In part 2, multiple ascending doses (30-min infusions of 7.5 to 15 mg/kg/day) were studied over 7 days. Following the administration of multiple doses, steady state was achieved by days 3 to 4. At day 7 after the administration of telavancin at 7.5, 12.5, and 15 mg/kg/day, peak concentrations in plasma were 96.7, 151.3, and 202.5 microg/ml, respectively, and steady-state area-under-the-curve values were 700, 1,033, and 1,165 microg x h/ml, respectively. The elimination half-life ranged from 6.9 to 9.1 h following the administration of doses > or =5 mg/kg. Most adverse events were mild in severity. At 24 h postinfusion, serum from subjects given telavancin demonstrated potent bactericidal activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae strains. The results suggest that telavancin may be an effective once-daily therapy for serious bacterial infections caused by these pathogens.     

Pharmacokinetics of cefprozil in infants and children.

Twenty pediatric patients (ages, between 8 months and 8 years) received a single oral dose of cefprozil at levels of 15 and 30 mg/kg of body weight. Cefprozil consists of cis (BMY-28100) and trans (BMY-28167) isomers in an approximately 90:10 ratio. Six plasma samples were collected from each pediatric patient and assayed for drug concentrations. As measured by a microbiological assay, peak concentrations of 11.16 and 15.93 micrograms of cefprozil per ml occurred at 1 h for patients who received the 15- and 30-mg/kg doses, respectively. The respective mean half-lives of cefprozil were 1.77 and 2.14 h, and the respective mean areas under the curve were 28.05 and 45.28 micrograms.h/ml for patients who received the 15- and 30-mg/kg doses. When measured by a high-pressure liquid chromatography method, peak concentrations of 12.09 and 18.04 micrograms of the cis isomer per ml were obtained at 1 h, with mean half-lives of 1.63 and 2.06 h and mean areas under the curve of 30.48 and 49.34 micrograms.h/ml in patients who received the 15- and 30-mg/kg doses, respectively. For the trans isomer, peak concentrations of 1.16 and 1.63 micrograms/ml occurred at 1 h, respectively, with mean half-lives of 1.61 and 1.65 h and mean areas under the curve of 2.89 and 4.34 micrograms.h/ml in patients who received the 15- and 30-mg/kg doses, respectively.     

Comparison of ciprofloxacin with azlocillin plus tobramycin in the therapy of experimental Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis.

The efficacy of ciprofloxacin (Bay o 9867), a promising new quinolone, was compared with the efficacy of azlocillin plus tobramycin in rabbits with experimentally induced Pseudomonas aeruginosa endocarditis. The MBCs of ciprofloxacin, azlocillin, and tobramycin against the test strain were 0.5, 8, and 4 micrograms/ml respectively. Ciprofloxacin at a concentration of 50 mg/kg or azlocillin at a concentration of 200 mg/kg in combination with tobramycin at a concentration of 5 mg/kg was administered intramuscularly at 8-h intervals for 4 days. Both regimens produced median peak serum bactericidal titers of 1:8. The concentrations of ciprofloxacin, azlocillin, and tobramycin in serum, 1.8 +/- 0.7, 154 +/- 48, and 9.1 +/- 2.4 micrograms/ml (mean +/- standard deviation), respectively, closely approximated concentrations found in humans after accepted dosages. At the end of treatment, the titers of P. aeruginosa were 3.0 +/- 1.6 log10 CFU/g of vegetation (mean +/- standard deviation) for recipients of ciprofloxacin and 3.2 +/- 1.3 log10 CFU/g of vegetation for recipients of azlocillin plus tobramycin. These values compared with control titers of 7.3 +/- 1.6 CFU/g. These data indicate that at the doses used, ciprofloxacin was as effective as azlocillin plus tobramycin in the treatment of P. aeruginosa endocarditis in rabbits. Since the latter drug combination has proven efficacy, ciprofloxacin deserves further evaluation in the therapy of systemic infections in animal models and in humans.     

Pharmacokinetics and plasma bactericidal activity of aztreonam in low-birth-weight infants.

Aztreonam (30 mg/kg) was administered intravenously every 12 h during week 1 and every 8 h during weeks 2 to 4 of life to 26 low-birth-weight (less than 2,000 g) infants, and plasma concentration-time curves were measured on two occasions. The pharmacokinetics were described equally well by one-compartment and noncompartment models, and the values on day 1 were similar to those measured during the steady state on days 3 to 6. The mean peak plasma concentrations at completion of the 10-min infusion were from 65 to 83 micrograms/ml, the higher concentrations being seen in the larger infants. The half-lives of aztreonam ranged from 5.4 to 8.6 h and did not change significantly with birth weight. The median peak and trough plasma bactericidal titer against a strain of Escherichia coli (MBC, 10 micrograms/ml) was 1:16. Against a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MBC, 16 micrograms/ml), the median peak and trough bactericidal titers were 1:8 to 1:16 and 1:4, respectively. The urinary concentrations of aztreonam on day 1 of therapy were from 24 to 460.7 micrograms/ml (mean +/- 1 standard deviation, 254 +/- 113 micrograms/ml).     

Lack of nephrotoxicity in pediatric patients receiving concurrent vancomycin and aminoglycoside therapy

Based on retrospective studies, nephrotoxicity may occur in as many as 35% of adult patients receiving vancomycin and an aminoglycoside. Limited data are available about the incidence of nephrotoxicity in pediatric patients, especially when drug therapy is closely monitored. We prospectively evaluated the potential of nephrotoxicity in 90 infants and children (61 less than 1 year and 29 greater than 1 year of age) receiving concomitant vancomycin and gentamicin for a duration of 3 to 38 (mean 9) days. Vancomycin and gentamicin doses ranged from 20 to 60 (mean 35) mg/kg/day and 2.5 to 14 (mean 6.5) mg/kg/day. Peak and trough serum concentration of vancomycin ranged from 10 to 55 and 2 to 18 micrograms/ml, respectively. Gentamicin peak and trough serum concentration ranged from 4 to 9 and 0.5 to 2.0 micrograms/ml, respectively. Serum creatinine concentration prior to, during and at the end of therapy averaged 0.42, 0.40, and 0.43 mg/dl (p greater than 0.1), respectively. Clinical status and urinalysis results showed no evidence of renal toxicity. These data suggest that nephrotoxicity is uncommon in pediatric patients receiving a combined therapy with vancomycin and gentamicin, particularly when serum concentrations of gentamicin are within therapeutic range.     

Ampicillin therapy of experimental enterococcal endocarditis.

In rabbits with experimental enterococcal endocarditis, subcutaneously implanted perforated polyethylene chambers were used for ampicillin administration by intra-chamber injection. A total of 21 days of intra-chamber ampicillin therapy sterilized vegetations of 14 out of 14 rabbits with experimental enterococcal endocarditis. In rabbits treated for less than 21 days, the duration of therapy and quantitative vegetation cultures were inversely related. Peak serum minimal bactericidal titers were greater than or equal to 1:8 in 94% of the determinations. Trough serum minimal bactericidal titers were less than or equal to 1:2. The mean trough serum ampicillin concentration (2.6 micrograms/ml) was greater than the minimal bactericidal concentration of ampicillin for the infecting enterococcus and less than the mean trough chamber fluid ampicillin concentration (3.7 micrograms/ml). Relatively prolonged therapy with intrachamber injections seemed to be well tolerated. Combination drug therapy of enterococcal endocarditis may not always be required. The maintenance of serum minimal bactericidal titers greater than or equal to 1:8 throughout the therapy of endocarditis, as is often recommended, may be unnecessary.     

Single-dose pharmacokinetics of the monobactam azthreonam (SQ 26,776) in healthy subjects.

Azthreonam (SQ 26,776) is a new, completely synthetic, monocyclic beta-lactam antimicrobial agent that is highly active in vitro against most gram-negative bacteria. The pharmacokinetics of single intravenous doses of 125 to 4,000 mg, studied in 36 healthy male subjects, were best described by an open, linear, two-compartment kinetic model. The mean peak serum levels at 5 min after completion of 3-min infusions of 500-, 1,000- and 2,000-mg doses were 58, 125, and 242 micrograms/ml, respectively. The mean terminal serum half-life for all doses was 1.66 h, and the apparent volume of distribution was 0.18 liter/kg. The mean serum clearance was 1.27 ml min-1 kg-1, and urinary excretion averaged 68% of the doses administered. The pharmacokinetics of single intramuscular doses of 250 to 1,000 mg, studied in 18 subjects, were best described by a linear, one-compartment model, with first-order absorption and elimination. The mean peak serum levels occurring at 1 h after doses of 250, 500, and 1,000 mg were 12, 22, and 46 micrograms/ml, respectively. Other kinetic parameters were similar to those for intravenous administration. Tolerance of azthreonam was good, with only a mild rash in one subject and with mild to moderate transient elevations in serum transaminases and lactate dehydrogenase in two subjects.     

Comparison of ampicillin-sulbactam regimens simulating 1.5- and 3.0-gram doses to humans in treatment of Escherichia coli bacteremia in mice.

A mouse model of bacteremia was used to compare the efficacies of 1.5- and 3.0-g intravenous doses of ampicillin-sulbactam. Seven strains of Escherichia coli producing various levels of TEM-1 beta-lactamase were used as the challenge isolates. These strains included six clinical isolates (MICs from 2/1 micrograms/ml [with 2 and 1 microgram/ml being the respective concentrations of ampicillin and sulbactam] to 32/16 micrograms/ml) with similar degrees of virulence in mice and a laboratory genetic transformant (E. coli AFE) which hyperproduces TEM-1 (MIC = 128/64 micrograms/ml). Human pharmacokinetics were simulated by injecting mice subcutaneously twice (1 h apart) with ampicillin-sulbactam at concentrations of 40 mg/kg of body weight (1.5 g) and 80 mg/kg (3.0 g). Against two clinical isolates for which ampicillin-sulbactam MICs were < or = 8/4 micrograms/ml, no difference was observed in either the rate or level of killing between the two doses, and both doses were 100% protective against lethal infection. Against the four clinical isolates for which ampicillin-sulbactam MICs were between 16/8 and 32/16 micrograms/ml, a slight delay in killing was noted with three of the strains. This delay was followed by a rapid 2- to 3-log drop in the level of bacteremia, and both doses of ampicillin-sulbactam were 100% protective against lethal septicemia. With strain AFE, no killing was observed with the 40-mg/kg dose compared with a 2-log killing with the 80-mg/kg dose. This difference in killing correlated with a decreased protective efficacy of the 40-mg/kg dose. These data suggest that the 1.5-g preparation of ampicillin-sulbactam is as effective as the 3.0-g dose in the treatment of experimentally induced E. coli bacteremia, as long as ampicillin-sulbactam MICs are 32/16 micrograms/ml or less.     

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of cefoperazone-sulbactam in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

This study was conducted to determine the pharmacokinetics of the fixed combination antibiotic cefoperazone-sulbactam in patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). In addition, the pharmacodynamic profile of this combination was determined by the use of mean bactericidal titers against selected bacterial strains. Six noninfected CAPD patients were given a fixed dose of cefoperazone (2 g) and sulbactam (1 g) either intravenously or intraperitoneally over 10 min in a randomized, two-way crossover fashion. The mean peak cefoperazone concentration in serum after intravenous administration was 280.9 micrograms/ml. The mean peak concentration in serum after intraperitoneal cefoperazone administration was 38.9 micrograms/ml and occurred 2 to 4 h postdose. The mean peak sulbactam concentration in serum after intravenous administration was 82.2 micrograms/ml. The mean peak concentration in serum after intraperitoneal sulbactam administration was 24.4 micrograms/ml and occurred at 6 h. The absolute bioavailability of the intraperitoneal dose was 61% for cefoperazone and 70% for sulbactam. Cefoperazone total body and renal clearances were unaffected by renal failure and dialysis. However, both clearance values for sulbactam were reduced markedly. Only intraperitoneal dosing provided peak inhibitory and bactericidal titers in dialysate for all organisms tested. Intravenous dosing provided satisfactory dialysate titers only for very susceptible bacterial strains. End-stage renal disease and CAPD do not alter cefoperazone pharmacokinetics; however, sulbactam dosing may need to be adjusted.