Modification of the pharmacokinetics and dosage of cefuroxime by endotoxin-induced fever in buffalo calves

The effect of endotoxin-induced fever on the pharmacokinetics and dosage re gimen of cefuroxime was investigated in buffalo calves following a single i ntravenous dose of 10 mg/kg body weight. The fever was induced by intraveno us administration of E. coli endotoxin at a dose of 1 mu g/kg body weight. The distribution and elimination half-lives were 0.100 h and 1.82 h, respec tively, in healthy and 0.109 h and 2.28 h, respectively, in febrile buffalo calves. About 91% of the administered dose was excreted in the urine withi n 24 h. There was no effect of fever on the plasma protein binding of cefur oxime. The dosage regimen for intravenous administration of cefuroxime may be reduced in febrile conditions but the probability of this was only 0.3.