In vitro antibacterial activity and beta-lactamase stability of cefodizime, a new cephalosporin antibiotic.

The in vitro activity and beta-lactamase stability of cefodizime (HR 221), a new cephalosporin, were compared with those of other cephem antibiotics. HR 221 was highly active against Gram-negative bacteria. The compound inhibited growth of all tested Haemophilus influenzae strains at 0.10 microgram/ml and showed strong activity even against penicillin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains, but it was less effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa than the other antibiotics tested. Against Gram-positive bacteria, HR 221 showed 100% inhibition of growth of Streptococcus pneumoniae at 0.39 microgram/ml, and it was slightly less active against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC90:12.5 micrograms/ml) than other antibiotics such as cefotaxime (CTX). The bactericidal activity of HR 221 against E. coli was dose-related and comparable to that of CTX, cefoperazone and latamoxef. The bactericidal activity of the compound at medium concentrations simulating human serum levels was higher than that of CTX and cefmetazole, and no cell regrowth was noted after beta-lactamase-induced inactivation of the compound. HR 221 was stable to most drug-inactivating enzyme preparations from various bacterial species.