Excretion of Cephaloridine and Cephalothin in Patients with Renal Impairment

Abstract

THE cephalosporins are a group of antibiotics isolated from Cephalosporium acremonium in 1945.¹ Cephalothin, a semisynthetic derivation of one of these, cephalosporin C, came into general clinical use in 1964. This compound has gained widespread acceptance because of its penicillin-like activity against a wide variety of bacteria, general resistance to staphylococcal penicillinase, low serum protein binding, minimum crossallergenic relation to the penicillins and limited side reactions and toxicity.^{2 3 4 5} It is poorly absorbed by the oral route and requires parenteral injection. Cephalothin is rapidly excreted into the urine. The major metabolite is a relatively inactive desacetyl analogue.⁶ Substitution of a pyridine . . .