[Serum pharmacokinetics and in vitro antibacterial activity of pefloxacin, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin]

Abstract

The principal pharmacokinetic values of pefloxacin, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were obtained from a review of the literature. Following oral or intravenous administration of these three quinolones in the usual doses, pefloxacin was found to have the highest maximum serum concentration and the longest half-life. Ciprofloxacin had the highest antibacterial activity in vitro against Enterobacteriaceae, Haemophilus spp. and Pseudomonas spp., but all three drugs had the same activity against Staphylococcus aureus. These data enabled us to calculate the serum inhibitory quotients at peak level (usual dose maximum serum concentration minimum 50 percent inhibitory concentrations ratio). The highest inhibitory quotients were obtained with ciprofloxacin on Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp. and with pefloxacin on Staph. aureus. Pefloxacin, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin had the same inhibitory quotients on Haemophilus spp.