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Effect of cefodizime (HR 221) on immunological defects induced by surgical stress
A Auteri1, A L Pasqui, F Bruni
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Siena, Italy.
Insights
Cefodizime, an aminothiazolylcephalosporin, improved immune function in surgical patients. This antibiotic enhanced neutrophil activity and complement pathways, mitigating postsurgical immune impairment.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
- Surgical Medicine
Background:
- Surgical procedures often lead to impaired immune responses.
- Aminothiazolylcephalosporins like cefodizime exhibit immunomodulating properties.
- Understanding drug effects on postsurgical immunity is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the in-vivo immunomodulating effects of cefodizime in surgical patients.
- To compare cefodizime's impact on immune function against ceftriaxone.
- To assess cefodizime's influence on both innate and adaptive immunity post-surgery.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving two groups of ten surgical patients each.
- Treatment groups received either cefodizime or ceftriaxone (2 g i.v. daily).
- Immune parameters including complement activity, neutrophil functions (phagocytosis, chemiluminescence, superoxide anion production), and lymphocyte subpopulations were assessed pre- and post-surgery/treatment.
Main Results:
- Surgical patients exhibited significant immunological derangement affecting neutrophils, lymphocytes, and complement.
- Cefodizime treatment significantly improved impaired immune functions, particularly neutrophil phagocytosis and complement system activity (classic and alternative pathways).
- Ceftriaxone served as a control, with cefodizime showing a more pronounced positive effect on specific immune markers.
Conclusions:
- Cefodizime demonstrates beneficial immunomodulating effects in surgical patients, counteracting postsurgical immune suppression.
- The drug notably enhances neutrophil and complement system functions.
- Cefodizime represents a promising therapeutic option for managing immune status in surgical contexts.
Abstract:
Cefodizime, a new aminothiazolylcephalosporin, has been shown to possess immunomodulating activity in many experimental models in vivo and in vitro. The in-vivo effect of the drug was evaluated in a model represented by the surgical patient, being surgical practices usually associated with an immunological impairment involving many aspects of the immune response. Two groups of ten subjects were treated respectively with cefodizime (2 g i.v. daily) and another cephalosporin (ceftriaxone) at the same dosage. Aspecific immunity (complement activity, neutrophil phagocytosis, chemiluminescence and superoxide anion production) and cell-mediated reactivity (lymphocyte subpopulations and E-rosette-forming cells) were evaluated before, and at predetermined intervals after, surgery and antibiotic treatment. In the control group an important immunological derangement is observed, involving both lymphocytes and neutrophil functions and complement system. The treatment with cefodizime displays a positive effect with a significant improvement of impaired functions. The effect of the drug particularly influences neutrophil phagocytosis, explored with both the NBT test and determinations of chemiluminescence, and the complement system, through both the classic and the alternative pathways. A slight effect is observed on lymphocyte functions.
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