Dosage adjustment for ceftazidime in patients with impaired renal function

Ceftazidime has good antibacterial activity against many Gram-negative micro-organisms including Ps. aeruginosa. The aim of the present study was to calculate a dosage adjustment regimen for renal failure patients and to test it in a second group of patients. A study was made of the pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime 1 g given as a single bolus i.v. injection in 20 patients in an intensive care unit with varying degrees of renal function, including patients on regular haemodialysis. The serum half-life of elimination (t1/2 beta) varied from 1.6 to 45 h depending on renal function. During haemodialysis the mean t1/2 was 4.7 h. A good correlation between the renal clearance of creatinine and ceftazidime was observed. In most patients protein binding was lower than previously observed. From the pharmacokinetic data, a dosage adjustment regimen for patients with renal insufficiency was calculated, which studies in 7 further patients showed to be effective.