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Clinical pharmacology of cefadroxil in infants and children
Insights
Cefadroxil suspension shows effective pharmacokinetics in children, with consistent serum levels and good urine excretion. It proved as effective as penicillin G for impetigo, suggesting its utility for pediatric infections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pharmacology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Cefadroxil is a cephalosporin antibiotic used for bacterial infections.
- Understanding its pharmacokinetic profile in children is crucial for appropriate dosing and efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of cefadroxil suspension in pediatric patients.
- To assess the clinical efficacy of cefadroxil compared to penicillin G in children with impetigo.
Main Methods:
- Pharmacokinetic study involving 30 children (13 months to 12 years) receiving cefadroxil suspension.
- Randomized controlled trial comparing cefadroxil to penicillin G in 50 children with impetigo.
Main Results:
- Peak serum concentrations were achieved with 10- and 15-mg/kg doses, unaffected by feeding status.
- Serum half-life ranged from 1.3 to 1.5 hours; cefadroxil was detected in saliva and urine.
- Cefadroxil demonstrated comparable efficacy to penicillin G in treating and preventing impetigo lesions.
Conclusions:
- Cefadroxil suspension exhibits predictable pharmacokinetics in children.
- Cefadroxil is a viable therapeutic option for impetigo and potentially other mucocutaneous and urinary tract infections in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
The pharmacokinetics of cefadroxil suspension were studied in 30 children, 13 months to 12 years of age (mean age, 5.7 years). Average peak concentrations in serum of 11 to 14 mug/ml and of 7 to 10 mug/ml after 15- and 10-mg/kg doses, respectively, were not substantially affected by the feeding status. The serum half-life values were 1.3 to 1.5 h. Cefadroxil was detected in saliva of all children 2 h after 15-mg/kg doses: the levels ranged from 0.17 to 2.6 mug/ml (mean, 0.46 mug/ml). The average concentrations in urine were 1,700 and 2,620 mug/ml at 0 to 2 and 2 to 4 h, respectively, after 15-mg/kg doses. In a randomized controlled study of 50 children with impetigo, cefadroxil was as effective as penicillin G in curing existing lesions and in preventing development of new lesions. Cefadroxil may be useful for therapy of mucocutaneous and urinary tract infections in infants and children.