Pharmacokinetics of ceftriaxone in pediatric patients with meningitis

Abstract

Pharmacokinetics of ceftriaxone after a single dose of 50 or 75 mg/kg were determined in 30 pediatric patients with bacterial meningitis. Data for doses of 50 and 75 mg/kg, respectively, were as follows (mean ± standard deviation): maximum plasma concentrations, 230 ± 64 and 295 ± 76 μg/ml; elimination rate constant, 0.14 ± 0.06 and 0.14 ± 0.04 h-1; harmonic elimination half-life, 5.8 ± 2.8 and 5.4 ± 2.1 h; plasma clearance, 51 ± 24 and 55 ± 18 ml/h per kgi volume of distribution, 382 ± 129 and 387 ± 56 ml/kg; mean concentration in cerebrospinal fluid 1 to 6 h after infusion, 5.4 and 6.4 μg/ml. A dosage schedule of 50 mg/kg every 12 h for bacterial meningitis caused by susceptible organisms is suggested for pediatric patients over 7 days of age.