Comparison of cefepime pharmacokinetics in neonatal foals and adult dogs.
The pharmacokinetics of cefepime, a new fourth generation cephalosporin with enhanced antibacterial activity, was examined in neonatal foals and adult dogs. Cefepime was administered intravenously (i.v.) at a dose of 14 mg/kg to five neonatal foals and six adult dogs. Blood samples were collected in both groups of animals and plasma cefepime concentrations measured by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Cefepime concentrations in both groups of animals were described by a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model with elimination half-lives of 1.65 and 1.09 h for the foal and dog, respectively. We tested whether or not pharmacokinetic parameters for cefepime could be scaled across species using principles of allometry. The parameters of elimination half-life (t(1/2)beta), apparent volume of distribution (VDarea), and systemic clearance (CL) were scaled linearly to body weight on a double logarithmic plot with allometric exponents for body weight of 0.26, 1.08 and 0.72, respectively. This study further determined doses for cefepime, a potentially useful antibiotic for neonatal foals and dogs, from the pharmacokinetic values. An i.v. dose of cefepime estimated from this study for treating sensitive bacteria was 11 mg/kg every 8 h for neonatal foals and 40 mg/kg every 6 h for dogs.
Gardner
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Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, 4700 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA. sarah_gardner@ncsu.edu
Papich
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MG
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001835:Body Weight; D000077723:Cefepime; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000662:veterinary; D004285:Dogs / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male
D002511:Cephalosporins; D000077723:Cefepime