[Azidocillin: activity in vitro, pharmacokinetics and therapeutic results in whooping cough]

In vitro activities of acidocillin and ampicillin were compared in 20 strains of Haemophilus influenzae, 50 strains of Enterococci and 4 strains of Bordetella pertussis by serial dilution test. There were no significant differences between both antibiotics. On Staphylococcus aureus (100 strains) and Streptococcus group A (25 strains) acidocillin was effective at the same degree as phenoxymethylpenicillin. After oral administration of 0.75 g acidocillin (1 h after a standard breakfast) serum peaks in 10 healthy adults were 6.1 +/- 0.51 mug/ml (after 1 1/2 h) which decreased to 0.5 +/- 0.10 mug/ml (after 4 h) and to 0.045 +/- 0.02 mug/ml (after 6 h). Urine-recovery in 9 h after oral administration of 0.75 g was found as of 58%, after i.v. administration of the same dose 78% (absorption rate nearly 74%). Therapy of whooping cough in 12 children with acidocillin (60 mg/kg/die) led to the disappearance of Bordetella pertussis from nasal swabs (only one failure caused by the child's frequent vomiting).