Pharmacokinetics and cerebrospinal fluid penetration of moxalactam in children with bacterial meningitis.

The serum pharmacokinetics and CSF penetration of moxalactam were determined in 39 children with bacterial meningitis. The mean serum concentrations 30 minutes after a 37.5 or 50 mg/kg dose were 66.7 and 113 micrograms/ml, respectively. The t 1/2 beta was between 1.8 and 2.0 hours. The mean +/- 1 SD CSF/serum percentage was 18.5 +/- 16.0% (range 2.0 to 61%) for all children on any day of therapy or hour, after the last of three 50 mg/kg doses. Cerebrospinal fluid bactericidal titers were greater than or equal to 1:32 in 13 of 14 CSF specimens. Moxalactam adequately penetrates into the CSF of children with bacterial meningitis after repetitive 50 mg/kg doses.