Kinetics of intravenous mezlocillin in chronic hemodialysis patients

The kinetics of intravenous mezlocillin was studied in 8 patients with creatinine clearances under 7 ml/min who were undergoing chronic hemodialysis. Kinetic parameters were determined using a 2-compartment linear model. The mezlocillin serum half-life (t 1/2) in these patients ranged from 2.9 to 7.8 hr (mean, 5.4). The t 1/2 decreased to 1.57 +/- 0.09 hr during dialysis. Approximately 18% of the dose was recovered in the dialysate in 4 hr of dialysis. There was a 30% reduction per hour in serum concentration. The kinetics of mezlocillin, due to removal by nonrenal mechanisms, more closely resemble the kinetics of penicillin G and ampicillin than of carbenicillin and ticarcillin. A dosage schedule for use of intravenous mezlocillin in patients undergoing hemodialysis is presented.