In vitro activity of cefepime and cefpirome compared to other third-generation cephem antibiotics against

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Published on: January 22, 2021

H N Tumah1

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. tumah@just.edu.jo

Die Pharmazie
|December 14, 2004
PubMed

Insights

New fourth-generation cephalosporins, cefepime and cefpirome, show enhanced in vitro activity against gram-negative bacteria, including resistant strains. These antibiotics offer promising treatment options for serious infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Aerobic gram-negative bacteria cause serious infections.
  • Third-generation cephalosporins (cefoperazone, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone) are commonly used.
  • Emergence of antibiotic resistance necessitates evaluation of new agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Compare in vitro activities of fourth-generation cephalosporins (cefepime, cefpirome) with third-generation agents.
  • Evaluate efficacy against clinical isolates of Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
  • Assess potential for treating infections caused by resistant gram-negative bacteria.

Main Methods:

  • Agar dilution method standardized by the US National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards.
  • Determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for tested antibiotics.
  • Testing against 302 clinical isolates of Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Main Results:

  • Cefepime demonstrated superior in vitro activity against Klebsiella and Enterobacter species compared to other tested antibiotics.
  • Cefepime exhibited activity comparable to ceftazidime against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
  • Cefepime and cefpirome showed significant activity against many resistant gram-negative organisms.

Conclusions:

  • Fourth-generation cephalosporins, cefepime and cefpirome, possess broad-spectrum in vitro activity against clinically relevant gram-negative bacteria.
  • Cefepime and cefpirome are effective against resistant strains, offering potential therapeutic advantages.
  • These agents represent valuable options for treating serious infections caused by challenging gram-negative pathogens.

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