Antimicrobial activity, pharmacokinetics, adverse reactions, and therapeutic indications of cefoperazone

Cefoperazone is a parenteral cephalosporin antibiotic that is pending approval by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration. Compared to most other cephalosporins cefoperazone has a greatly expanded spectrum of bactericidal activity that encompasses most aerobic gram-positive bacteria except enterococci, most aerobic gram-negative bacteria, including a majority of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, and a number of pathogenic anaerobic bacteria. Its long serum half-life, approximately two hours, permits a twelve hourly dosing schedule. No dosage modification is required in patients with renal insufficiency, and only minor modification is needed in patients with hepatic insufficiency or biliary obstruction. Clinical trials have established cefoperazone's efficacy in lower respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and a variety of other bacterial infections. Adverse reactions have been infrequent, and few serious reactions have been identified. Cefoperazone is a promising new agent for the treatment of gram-negative bacillary and polymicrobial infections, especially in settings that require empiric therapy.