Study of the pharmacokinetics of cefpirome sulphate in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the appropriate method of administration of the cephem antibiotic cefpirome sulphate in elderly patients.


METHODS
We studied cefpirome's pharmacokinetics in patients with urinary tract infections. Patients received cefpirome sulphate 0.5 g by intravenous drip infusion over 30 mins.


RESULTS
Patients with a creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) of 80 ml/min had an AUC of 96.7 microg.h/ml and a T1/2 of 2.36 h, whereas those with Ccr of 40-80 ml/min had an AUC of 172.0 microg.h/ml and a T1/2 of 3.45 h and those with Ccr of < 40 ml/min had an AUC of 152 microg.h/ ml and a T1/2 of 4.86 h.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that decreased kidney function can cause increases in the AUC and T1/2 of cefpirome. Thus in elderly patients and perhaps also in other patients with decreased kidney function, cefpirome should be administered at an initial dose of 0.5 g.
Sugihara
H
H
Second Department of Internal Medicine, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
Narita
N
N
Takatsu
R
R
Horiuchi
M
M
Yonenami
K
K
Hotta
M
M
Shibahara
K
K
Kamo
T
T
Negishi
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D000097572:Cefpirome
D002511:Cephalosporins; D003404:Creatinine; D000097572:Cefpirome