In vitro activities of LY163892, cefaclor, and cefuroxime

The in vitro activity of LY163892, a synthetic oral cephalosporin, was compared with those of cefaclor and cefuroxime against 1,193 clinical isolates. MIC ranges and MICs for 50 and 90% of isolates of the three cephalosporins were comparable. The activities of LY163892 and cefaclor were, however, highly inoculum dependent against beta-lactamase-positive Haemophilus influenzae and Staphylococcus aureus; that of cefuroxime was not. LY163892 and cefuroxime appeared stable in microdilution trays stored at 5 and -20 degrees C for 5 weeks, in contrast to cefaclor which remained stable for more than a week only at -5 degrees C.