DISTRIBUTION OF CEFDINIR, A 3RD-GENERATION CEPHALOSPORIN ANTIBIOTIC, IN SERUM AND PULMONARY COMPARTMENTS

The distribution of a new cephalosporin, cefdinir, in serum, epithelia l lining fluid (ELF), bronchial mucosa and alveolar macrophages was st udied in 17 adults following a single oral dose of 300 or 600 mg of ce fdinir; tissue samples being obtained by diagnostic bronchoscopy appro ximately 4 h after this dose. Mucosal biopsies were taken, alveolar ma crophages harvested by lavage, and ELF volume derived from urea concen trations in bronchial lavage fluid and blood. A microbiological assay for cefdinir was performed in serum, bronchial mucosa, ELF and alveola r macrophages. In patients taking 300 mg of cefdinir, the median conce ntrations of cefdinir were 2.00 mg/L (range 1.40-8.00) in serum, 0.78 mg/L (range 0-1.33) in bronchial mucosa, and 0.29 mg/L (range 0-4.73) in ELF. In patients taking 600 mg, the median concentrations were 4.20 mg/L (range 3.05-6.40) in serum, 1.14 mg/L (range 0-1.92) in bronchia l mucosa, and 0.49 mg/L (range 0-0.59) in ELF. Cefdinir did not penetr ate macrophages.