CEFDINIR (FK482), AN ORALLY-ADMINISTERED CEPHALOSPORIN INVITRO ACTIVITY COMPARISON AGAINST RECENT CLINICAL ISOLATES FROM 5 MEDICAL-CENTERS AND DETERMINATION OF MIC QUALITY-CONTROL GUIDELINES

Cefdinir, a new oral cephalosporin, was compared to cefaclor, cefadroxil, cefixime, and cefuroxime against >5000 recent aerobic clinical isolates. This multicenter study revealed broad-spectrum cefdinir activity against all Enterobacteriaceae (MIC50s, 0.06-2-mu-g/ml) except Enterobacter cloacae, Morganella morganii, Proteus vulgaris, and Serratia marcescens (MIC50s, greater-than-or-equal-to 4-mu-g/ml). Oxacillin-susceptible staphylococci (MIC90s, 0.5-2-mu-g/ml), beta-hemolytic Streptococcus group B (MIC90, 0.06-mu-g/ml), and Acinetobacter lwoffii were also susceptible to cefdinir. The activity of cefdinir was similar to that of cefixime and cefuroxime against Gram-negative organisms and superior to all tested oral cephems when tested against Gram-positive cocci. None of the cephalosporins were active against oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp., enterococci, Pseudomonas spp., or Xanthomonas maltophilia. MIC quality control range guidelines were established for the strains recommended by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards documents.