[A study on transference of cefmenoxime into the cerebrospinal fluid]

Two grams of cefmenoxime (CMX) was administered by one-shot intravenous injection to the patients in normal pressure hydrocephalus without meningitis, and the transference of CMX into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from blood was investigated. After the injection of CMX, CSF and serum were serially taken, and the concentrations of CMX were measured by agar-well method using E. coli. The conclusions drawn from this study are summarized as follows: The concentrations of CMX in CSF were more slowly decreased than those in serum. The mean ratio of transference of CMX into CSF from the serum was 1.4%. After the intravenous injection of 2 g CMX, the mean maximum concentration of CMX in CSF was 0.36 microgram/ml, which exceeded 80% MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) against several Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative rods, and higher concentrations than the 80% MIC were kept over 4 hours in CSF. The efficacy of CMX may be kept by its injections less than 4 times a day.