Moxalactam (Moxam) in the treatment of experimental staphylococcal endophthalmitis

We investigated the intraocular penetration, retinal toxicity, clearance from the vitreous, and antibacterial activity of moxalactam (Moxam), a new third-generation cephalosporin with activity against aerobic and anaerobic gram positive organisms and many gram negative organisms. Seventy-four albino rabbits were used. Subconjunctival injection yielded therapeutic aqueous and vitreous levels for all hours studied. Intraocular penetration following single dose intravenous and intramuscular administration was poor. Two mg injected into the vitreous produced rare focal retinal toxicity. Eleven of the 11 eyes receiving intravitreal injections of 2 mg moxalactam eight hours after inoculation with S. aureus were sterile and free of morphologic changes. Moxalactam appears to be a potent broad spectrum antibiotic with a low degree of toxicity to rabbit retinal tissue.