CONCENTRATIONS OF CEFTIBUTEN IN BRONCHIAL-SECRETIONS

Ceftibuten is a broad-spectrum oral cephalosporin exhibiting antimicro bial activity against a wide range of gram-negative and some gram-posi tive pathogens. Pharmacokinetic studies have shown that the molecule h as an oral bioavailability higher than 90% of the administered dose (r eaching peak serum concentrations of 5-19 mg/l after a single dose of 200 and 400 mg). Moreover, ceftibuten has been shown to be useful in t he treat ment of acute lower respiratory tract infections. This study was performed to determine the distribution of ceftibuten in bronchial secretions from patients affected by the exacerbation of chronic bron chitis. Patients were treated with a single 400-mg oral dose of ceftib uten. Blood and bronchial-secretion samples were obtained just before, and at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16 and 24 h after dosing. Cells were sepa rated from bronchial secretions by centrifugation. Ceftibuten in dupli cate samples of both serum and bronchial secretion was quantified by H PLC. Ceftibuten reached peak levels 2 and 4 h after oral administratio n in serum and in bronchial secretions, respectively (18.12 +/- 2.13 a nd 9.19 +/- 3.1 mg/l, respectively). Falling curves after the peaks sh owed a monoexponential decay. The absorption was very rapid both in se rum and bronchial secretions, but elimination was slower in bronchial secretions than in serum.