Concentrations of cefpirome in cerebrospinal fluid of children with bacterial meningitis after a single intravenous dose

A single intravenous dose of cefpirome, 50 mg/kg, was administered to 15 children with bacterial meningitis 24 to 48 h after initiation of standard antibiotic and steroid therapy. Cefpirome concentrations in serum and cerebrospinal fluid were determined at selected time intervals. The mean (standard deviation) peak concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (n = 5) was 10.8 (7.8) mu g/ml. Drug concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid above the MIC for Streptococcus pneumoniae at which 90% of the isolates were inhibited were found 2, 4, and 8 h after the dose of cefpirome was given. The penetration of cefpirome into cerebrospinal fluid compares favorably with that of other extended-spectrum cephalosporins and suggests that this agent would be useful in the therapy of childhood meningitis, including cases caused by drug-resistant S. pneumoniae.