IN-VITRO EFFICACY OF CEFQUINOME (INN) AND OTHER ANTIINFECTIVE DRUGS AGAINST BOVINE BACTERIAL ISOLATES FROM BELGIUM, FRANCE, GERMANY, THE NETHERLANDS, AND THE UNITED-KINGDOM

The in vitro antibacterial activity of cefquinome (INN), an aminothiaz olyl-cephalosporin of the fourth generation of cephalosporins, was inv estigated by determining the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC, mu g/ml) for 714 bacterial isolates of bovine origin and comparing it wi th those of amoxicillin, amoxicillin and clavulanic acid, ceftiofur, c ephapirin, enrofloxacin, gentamicin, kanamycin and oxytetracycline. Dr ug resistance was determined by using break-points, which consider the dosage regimen and pharmacokinetics of the veterinary antimicrobials investigated. Cefquinome demonstrated a very high in vitro activity ag ainst bacterial isolates of Pasteurella spp., Escherichia coil and Sal monella spp. Overall, the level of resistance against the different an ti-infectives tested was lowest for cefquinome. For the remaining subs tances examined, in vitro activity and the level of resistance showed considerable differences. The chemical and pharmaceutical features of cefquinome are discussed.