New cephalosporin antibiotic--cephaloridine. Clinical and laboratory evaluation

Abstract

A new antibiotic, cephaloridine, a semisynthetic derivative of cephalosporin C, has been shown to possess a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity inhibiting growth of a large number of Enterobacteriaceae as well as most common gram-positive pathogens. It is similar chemically to sodium cephalothin, the cephalosporin antibiotic currently in use in the United States, and differs only by the substitution of a pyridine ring for an acetate radical. Cephaloridine consistently demonstrates higher and more sustained antibacterial levels in the blood than sodium cephalothin and is better tolerated following intramuscular administration. However, cephaloridine is more susceptible to inactivation by penicillinase and should probably not be used as a 1st line drug in suspected or proven staphylococcal sepsis. Overt untoward reactions were not frequent except for the development of rash in 2 and serious superinfections with Pseudomonas in 6 additional patients.