Abstract
Ceftazidime, a new parenteral broad spectrum cephalosporin, is stable to most β-lactamases and has high activity against Pseudomonas species, Providencia, Serratia and indole positive Proteus. Studies in adult human volunteers demonstrate high long lasting serum levels, low serum binding and high recovery of unchanged antibiotic in the urine, and have failed to reveal any evidence of toxicity. Sixteen newborn infants received treatment with intravenous Ceftazidime 30 mg/kg 12 hourly for suspected neonatal sepsis. The median gestational age of the infants was 32 weeks (range 26-42 weeks) and the mean birth-weight 1700 grams (range 820-3520 grams). Pharmacokinetics of Ceftazidime were determined in the infants and serum concentration time curves were characterised by the two compartment open system kinetic model. The mean serum concentration 1 hour after the 30 mg/kg infusion was 38.95 mg/L and the mean serum trough level was 13.8 mg/L. Elimination half-lives correlated inversely with gestational age. The mean half lives during the first week of life were 5.0 hours in infants <32 weeks, 4.7 hours in those 32-37 weeks, and 3.3 hours in term infants. The drug was well tolerated and adverse effects were not observed.
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James, A., Farmer, K., Aryton, J. et al. 379 PHARMACOKINETICS OF CEFTAZIDIME IN THE NEWBORN INFANT. Pediatr Res 19, 174 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00409
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198504000-00409
