In vivo activity of cefodizime.

Cefodizime has been shown to possess high in vivo antibacterial activity in a variety of experimental infection models involving different body systems and animal species: systemic infections, pneumonia and urinary tract infections in normal mice, intrauterine infections in normal rats, and meningitis in normal rabbits, as well as systemic infections in immunosuppressed animals. Most investigations found that the therapeutic efficacy of cefodizime frequently exceeded the one expected from its in vitro values and in many cases compared favorably with those of other cephems, even when the in vitro susceptibility of the infecting organism to these drugs was markedly higher. These findings have been attributed either to the superior kinetic profile of cefodizime--prolonged serum half-life and excellent tissue penetration with long-lasting levels--or to a synergy between its high bactericidal activity and host defence mechanisms. The parallel consideration of the MIC90 values of cefodizime and the pharmacokinetic profile of this agent in humans indicate that the vast majority of the relevant respiratory and urinary pathogens are covered by once-a-day cefodizime dosage regimens of either 1 or 2 g.