[In vitro comparative bactericidal effect of cefotaxime and cefixime in a kinetic model]

The bactericidal activity of cefotaxime against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Serratia marcescens, was compared with that of cefixime in an in vitro model simulating the human pharmacokinetics of these antibiotics. Kinetic parameters in this model were T1/2 = 1.3 h and Cmax = 45 mg/l for cefotaxime; T1/2 = 3.5 h and Cmax = 5 or 3.5 mg/l for cefixime. These parameters mimicked those obtained after a 1 g intravenous infusion of cefotaxime and an oral uptake of 0.4 or 0.2 g of cefixime, respectively. Both antibiotics demonstrated a strong bactericidal activity. Against Escherichia coli, the bactericidal effect of cefotaxime was slightly more rapid and more prolonged than that of cefixime: -5 log10 CFU/ml over 4 h vs -3 log10 CFU/ml over 8 h respectively. Against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Serratia marcescens, both drugs exhibited similar bactericidal activity despite different dosages and routes of administration: -2 to -3 log10 CFU/ml over 4 h.