title: The half-life and exposure of cefuroxime varied in newborn infants after a Caesarean section.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  No information was available on how fast intravenous cefuroxime administered to pregnant women before a Caesarean section was cleared in newborn infants. This study investigated the drug's half-life and the exposure of healthy newborn infants after their mothers received the drug.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy mothers received a single dose of cefuroxime 15-60 minutes before skin incision. One blood sample was drawn from the umbilical cord, and two blood samples were drawn from the infant after delivery. Total plasma cefuroxime (μg/mL) was measured using high-pressure liquid chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cefuroxime was given to 22 mothers, including two who had twins. The concentration of cefuroxime varied significantly among infants (p < 0.001), while the rate of decline did not (p = 0.24). The median cefuroxime half-life was 3.5 hours (range 2.9-5.5), which was approximately three times longer than in normal adults and seemed to clear within 24 hours. The median area under the concentration-time curve was 65.0 hour μg/mL (range 31.7-162.4).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that the cefuroxime half-life after a Caesarean section varied among infants and was longer than in normal adults but cleared within 24 hours. Exposure to cefuroxime in newborn infants may influence the gut microbiota and should be investigated further.
authors.affiliation: Hans Christian Andersen Children's Hospital, Odense University Hospital and University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zachariassen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Odense University Hospital and University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.|OPEN Odense Patient data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hyldig
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Odense University Hospital and University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Joergensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Unit, Rigshospitalet and University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Greisen
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002585:Cesarean Section; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002444:Cefuroxime
keywords: Caesarean section; Cefuroxime; Newborn infants