Pharmacokinetics of intravenous and intraperitoneal cefuroxime during peritoneal dialysis

We investigated the pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime sodium, a new parenteral beta-lactam antibiotic, in 15 patients with stable chronic renal failure during intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD). Eight patients were administered 1 g cefuroxime as an intravenous bolus 1 h before the start of dialysis. Mean plasma levels of cefuroxime fell from 80 mcg/ml at 1 h to 40 mcg/ml at 6-8 h. At 24 h, concentrations were higher than 20 mcg/ml. In peritoneal fluid cefuroxime reached 16.7 mcg/ml at 1 h and 7.55 mcg/ml at 6 h. Seven patients received cefuroxime added to the dialysis solution at a dose of 2.5 g/10 liters. After 6 h of dialysis, cefuroxime reached plasma levels of 60 mcg/ml; after 24 h, concentrations were 37.5 mcg/ml. These results demonstrate that cefuroxime, administered by the i.v. route, easily diffuses from blood to peritoneal fluid and, from peritoneal fluid to blood when added to the dialysis solution. In both cases concentrations reached by cefuroxime are sufficient to treat peritoneal infections associated with peritoneal dialysis.