title: Pharmacokinetics of mecillinam in health subjects.
abstract: Mecillinam is an amidino penicillinate derivative with a broad spectrum of activity against many gram-negative bacilli. Moreover, marked in vitro synergy against these organisms occurs when mecillinam is combined with other beta-lactam antibiotics. The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic disposition of this antibiotic. A single dose of 10 mg/kg was administered to 12 healthy volunteers as a 15-min intravenous infusion. Multiple plasma and urine samples were collected at frequent intervals for 8 and 24 h, respectively. Plasma samples were assayed for mecillinam by using a specific high-pressure liquid chromatographic assay developed in our laboratory. Peak plasma levels ranged from 34 to 80 micrograms/ml, and after 4 h, plasma levels were 0.7 to 1.9 microgram/ml. The mean terminal plasma half-life was 51.1 +/- 8.6 min. The mean steady-state volume of distribution was calculated to be 0.23 +/- 0.04 liter/kg. The mean plasma and renal clearances were 3.5 +/- 0.4 and 2.5 +/- 0.4 ml/min per kg, respectively. The mean percentage of the dose excreted unchanged in the urine at 4 h was 67 +/- 5%; 71 +/- 6% was recovered in 24 h. Urine concentrations at 4 h were far above the minimum inhibitory concentration for susceptible gram-negative organisms.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000560:Amdinocillin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D000560:Amdinocillin