Ceftazidime: pharmacokinetics in patients and effects on the renal function

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Abstract
Fifteen patients were treated for four to nine days with ceftazidime 1000 mg every 8 h intravenously. The antibiotic was well tolerated. Comparing the glomerular nitration rate (GFR) after the first and last ceftazidime doses, a slight but significant decrease could be demonstrated. As judged by determinations of urinary excretion of β2-microglobulin, ceftazidime did not affect the proximal tubular function of the patients. The pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime were characterized by a half life of 0·8 to 1·9 h in six patients with GFR above 90 ml/min/1·73 m2 body area while the half life was 3·2–3·7 h in three patients with GFR between 47 and 54 ml/min/1·73 m2 body area. The study demonstrated that with an intravenous dose of 1000 mg of ceftazidime, serum and urine concentrations well above the minimum inhibitory concentrations for most pathogens were achieved. The dosages of ceftazidime should be monitored by determinations of the renal function of the patients and/or the serum concentrations achieved in order to avoid accumulation in patients with markedly reduced renal function.