Clinical and pharmacokinetic comparison of cefuroxime sodium and cefuroxime lysine in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections

Abstract

Sixteen patients admitted to hospital with symptoms of lower respiratory infections were treated with cefuroxime, either the sodium salt (‘Zinacef’) or the lysine salt. Either complete resolution of signs and symptoms, or a marked improvement, was noted in 13 of the patients. Infecting organisms were usually rapidly eliminated and sputum purulence dramatically reduced by the second day following the initiation of treatment. A cross-over study in the patients showed that the pharmacokinetic behaviour of the lysine salt was similar to that of sodium cefuroxime, in both sputum and plasma. One patient receiving the sodium salt withdrew because of pain on injection. The cross-over study suggested that the lysine salt was less painful than the sodium salt.