Multicentre study of the in vitro activity of cefepime, a broad-spectrum cephalosporin, compared to other broad-spectrum agents

The in vitro activity of cefepime was compared to that of a range of other broad-spectrum agents, using a gradient diffusion MIC method, against 995 r ecent clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, othe r nonfermentative Gram-negative bacilli, staphylococci (except oxacillin-re sistant Staphylococcus aureus), streptococci, enterococci, and aerobic Gram -positive bacilli. Cefepime had excellent activity against Enterobacteriace ae, including eight presumptive extended-spectrum beta -lactamase producers and 33 stably derepressed mutants of natural cephalosporinases. Activity a gainst Pseudomonas aeruginosa was similar to ceftazidime and superior to ce fpirome. Its activity against Gram-positive cocci was also good, being more active against staphylococci and only slightly less active against strepto cocci than ceftriaxone. Cefepime maintained activity against bacteria resis tant to aminoglycosides and ciprofloxacin. Enterococci, Bacillus species, B urkholderia cepacia and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were predicably resist ant. Cefepime has a spectrum of activity almost as broad as that of the car bapenems.