title: Lack of penetration of cephacetril into the cerebro-spinal fluid of patients without meningitis.
abstract: Six neurosurgical patients were given 2-4 g cephacetril intravenously at six hourly intervals. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations were determined. Cephacetril activity was not detectable in the CSF when the blood-CSF barrier was intact. In two patients with increased CSF cell counts cephacetril was found in the CSF in low concentrations (0.1-0.8 mcg/ml). Our investigations show that cephacetril does not penetrate into the CSF unless there is an inflammation or other impairment of the blood-CSF barrier. Thus we could not confirm the results of some authors who found cephacetril in therapeutically effective concentrations in the CSF of healthy persons.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000601:surgery; D002505:Cephacetrile / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D006801:Humans; D008581:Meningitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D002505:Cephacetrile