Ceftazidime, ceftizoxime, cefotaxime and HR 221 in experimental chronic Escherichia coli pyelonephritis in rats.

The therapeutic efficacy and pharmacokinetics of the cephalosporins ceftazidime, ceftizoxime, cefotaxime and HR 221 were studied in animal experiments. The animal model used was experimental estrogen-induced or non-induced chronic Escherichia coli pyelonephritis in rats. The animals were treated with 5 mg cephalosporin/kg twice daily for one week. Each of the cephalosporins tested led to a significant decrease in renal bacterial counts, in spite of the low doses given. Ceftazidime was significantly more active than HR 221 in both experimental models, although the serum levels of HR 221 were higher and were maintained for a longer period of time than those of ceftazidime. Differences in pharmacokinetic properties (influenced by metabolic stability and protein binding) could be the reason for the differences in therapeutic activity, since the in vitro antimicrobial activity of each of the cephalosporins tested was very similar against the test strain.