CEFTIBUTEN - A NEW ORALLY ABSORBED CEPHALOSPORIN - INVITRO ACTIVITY AGAINST STRAINS FROM THE UNITED-KINGDOM

The in vitro activity of ceftibuten was studied in 572 bacterial strains and was compared with the activity of other orally administered-beta-lactams. Ceftibuten displayed high activity against the Enterobacteriaceae, generally being 16-fold more active than cefuroxime, cefaclor, cephalexin, or amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. Its activity was comparable to cefixime. There was little ceftibuten or cefixime activity against staphylococci (MIC90s-greater-than-or-equal-to-64-mu-g/ml). and reduced activity Streptococcus pneumoniae (MIC90, 16-mu-g/ml). Heamophilus influenzae and Neisseria spp. were highly susceptible to ceftibuten and cefixime. The protein binding of ceftibuten was 77%, and the primary target site was PBP 3. A high degree of stability to beta-lactamase hydrolysis was observed.