Ro 13–9904: A cephalosporin with a high degree of activity and broad antibacterial activity: an in vitro comparative study

Abstract

The activity of the new cephalosporin Ro 13–9904 (Ro) was compared with other β-lactams against 303 clinical bacterial isolates. Against the Enterobacteriaceae Ro was highly active, 90% of the strains being inhibited by between Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MIC₉₀ 16 mg/;l) but less active against Bacteroides fragilis (MIC₉₀ 64 mg/l). Strains of Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae were highly susceptible and the activity against Staphylococcus aureus was similar to cefotaxime. Ro would appear to be bactericidal and its activity relatively unaffected by serum despite a high protein binding of 95%.