Cefoperazone (Cefobid, Pfizer)

Abstract

Cefoperazone is a new beta-lactam antibiotic that possesses a broad spectrum of activity against gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. Cefoperazone differs from all previous cephalosporins in that it has exceptional activity against P. aeruginosa. The other distinguishing feature of cefoperazone is its high rate of biliary excretion, which will allow for treatment of biliary tract infections. Renal elimination accounts for only 20 percent of the agent's elimination; dosage modification is not necessary in decreased renal function. The clinical response rate of infections to cefoperazone is similar to that of moxalactam, cefotaxime, or the cephalosporins in general. The overall incidence of side effects was 14 percent in U.S. trials, with skin rash, fever, or urticaria occurring in 1 percent; phlebitis and injection-site pain in 2 percent; and diarrhea in 5 percent. As with the other third-generation cephalosporins, cefoperazone requires close scrutiny because of its expected high cost and the lack of comparative trials with standard antibiotic regimens.