Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

A Robust Pneumonia Model in Immunocompetent Rodents to Evaluate Antibacterial Efficacy against S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii
09:17

A Robust Pneumonia Model in Immunocompetent Rodents to Evaluate Antibacterial Efficacy against S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii

Published on: January 2, 2017

Pharmacokinetics and efficacy of ceftazidime in experimental Haemophilus influenzae b meningitis

K Krasinski1, J D Nelson

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas, Southwestern Medical School, USA.

The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
|October 7, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Ceftazidime effectively treats infant rat meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae. This antibiotic achieved therapeutic blood and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations, reducing bacterial counts and maintaining negative cultures in 45% of cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology and Microbiology
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Haemophilus influenzae is a significant cause of bacterial meningitis in infants.
  • Ceftazidime is a third-generation cephalosporin with known activity against Gram-negative bacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of ceftazidime in infant rats.
  • To assess the efficacy of ceftazidime in treating experimental infant rat meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae.

Main Methods:

  • Infant rats received a single intravenous dose of ceftazidime (25 mg/kg).
  • Blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations were measured over time.
  • CSF bacterial counts were assessed 8 hours post-dose in animals with meningitis.

Main Results:

  • Ceftazidime achieved a mean peak blood concentration of 31.8 mg/l and a half-life of 1.3 hours.
  • Mean CSF penetration was 22.8% of blood levels, irrespective of meningitis status.
  • A single dose reduced CSF bacterial counts, with 45% of treated rats maintaining negative cultures.

Conclusions:

  • Ceftazidime demonstrates favorable pharmacokinetics and significant in vivo activity against Haemophilus influenzae meningitis in infant rats.
  • These findings support the potential utility of ceftazidime in treating pediatric meningitis caused by this pathogen.

More Related Videos

Antibiotic Efficacy Testing in an Ex vivo Model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms in the Cystic Fibrosis Lung09:26

Antibiotic Efficacy Testing in an Ex vivo Model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms in the Cystic Fibrosis Lung

Published on: January 22, 2021

Metabolic Profiling to Determine Bactericidal or Bacteriostatic Effects of New Natural Products using Isothermal Microcalorimetry07:28

Metabolic Profiling to Determine Bactericidal or Bacteriostatic Effects of New Natural Products using Isothermal Microcalorimetry

Published on: October 29, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Stability-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence01:22

Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Stability-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence

Generic intravenous (IV) drugs are considered bioequivalent to their branded counterparts due to their 100% bioavailability upon administration. However, variations in stability among different drug products can significantly influence their therapeutic performance, even if they are pharmaceutically equivalent.Cefuroxime, a prophylactic antimicrobial, is often used as a single-dose IV injection for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. A 3 g dose typically provides...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Pharmacodynamic Models: Overview01:27

Pharmacodynamic Models: Overview

Pharmacodynamic (PD) responses describe the interaction between a drug and its biological target, culminating in a physiological effect. These responses can be classified into different types: continuous variables, such as blood glucose levels; categorical outcomes, like survival rates; and time-to-event metrics, such as disease progression. Understanding and modeling PD responses are critical for optimizing drug efficacy and safety.PD models describe the relationship between drug concentration...
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology01:26

Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology

Bacterial meningitis typically begins when pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae colonize the nasopharynx and invade the bloodstream. This process is facilitated by bacterial virulence factors, such as polysaccharide capsules, which resist phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing. Less commonly, bacteria reach the central nervous system via contiguous spread from infections like otitis media or sinusitis, through congenital or acquired dural defects, or...