title: Pharmacokinetics of cefotaxime in healthy volunteers and patients.
abstract: Cefotaxime is a third-generation cephalosporin that has maintained good susceptibility pattern despite its extensive use. It is available for intravenous and intramuscular administration. Its pharmacokinetic property includes a small volume of distribution with low protein binding. Cefotaxime's half-life is approximately 1.1 h, and it is primarily eliminated by the kidney. It has an active metabolite desacetyl-cefotaxime that displays pharmacokinetic properties similar to cefotaxime. Desacetyl-cefotaxime has a half-life of 1.5 h and also is eliminated by the kidneys by both glomerular filtration and active secretion. The half-life of cefotaxime and its metabolite is altered in patients with severe renal dysfunction requiring dosage adjustment. Despite its relatively short half-life, cefotaxime may be dosed every 12 h based on its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Hartford Hospital, CT 06102, USA.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Nicolau
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Nightingale
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quintiliani
mesh_terms: D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; C029281:desacetylcefotaxime; D002439:Cefotaxime