Comparison of cefotaxime and moxalactam pharmacokinetics and tissue levels.

The pharmacokinetics of cefotaxime and moxalactam were compared in six healthy male volunteers aftr the administration of 1-g doses intravenously. Penetration of the compounds into tissue fluid was studied in cantharides-induced blisters. Both serum and tissue fluid levels of moxalactam were higher than those of cefotaxime. The elimination half-life of cefotaxime was 1.2 h, and that of moxalactam was 2.85 h. On the average, 50.5% of cefotaxime and 87.5% of moxalactam were recovered in the urine in 24 h.