CONCENTRATIONS OF CEFPIROME IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID OF CHILDREN WITH BACTERIAL-MENINGITIS AFTER A SINGLE INTRAVENOUS DOSE

A single intravenous dose of cefpirome, 50 mg/kg, was administered to 15 children with bacterial meningitis 24 to 48 h after initiation of s tandard antibiotic and steroid therapy. Cefpirome concentrations in se rum and cerebrospinal fluid were determined at selected time intervals . The mean (standard deviation) peak concentration in cerebrospinal fl uid (n = 5) was 10.8 (7.8) mu g/ml. Drug concentrations in cerebrospin al fluid above the MIC for Streptococcus pneumoniae at which 90% of th e isolates were inhibited were found 2, 4, and 8 h after the dose of c efpirome was given. The penetration of cefpirome into cerebrospinal fl uid compares favorably with that of other extended-spectrum cephalospo rins and suggests that this agent would be useful in the therapy of ch ildhood meningitis, including cases caused by drug-resistant S. pneumo niae.