title: Cefotaxime, desacetyl-cefotaxime, and bactericidal activity in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.
abstract: We have prospectively studied 13 episodes of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in 12 patients treated with cefotaxime (CTX) 2 g intravenously every 8 h (mean duration, 5.3 days). Ascitic fluid was inoculated at the bedside. The cultures were done before, during (day 3 after CTX initiation), and 48-72 h (mean, 56 h) after the end of therapy. All SBP episodes were monomicrobial. During treatment, the concentrations of CTX and desacetyl-cefotaxime (d-CTX) in ascitic fluid were high in all 13 SBP episodes, and d-CTX was still present in 6 patients who had residual ascitic bactericidal titer (ABT) activity after the last dose of CTX. ABTs were >/=1:128 during CTX therapy in 12 episodes and were measurable in 7 patients after the last dose. All patients were cured. The present study provides scientific rationale to the clinical studies that suggest treating SBP episodes with lower doses of antibiotics and shorter treatment duration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Pavillon Saint-Luc, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dalmau
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Layrargues
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fenyves
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Willems
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Turgeon
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Turgeon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; C029281:desacetylcefotaxime; D002439:Cefotaxime