THE PHARMACOKINETICS OF CEFUROXIME AXETIL IN THE SICK ELDERLY PATIENT

The pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime axetil (RS3 formulation) were studied in 20 elderly patients following admission for lower respiratory or urinary tract infection. The mean age was 83·9 years. A 12-hourly dose of 250 mg was given for five days. The mean time to attain maximum serum concentration was 3.2 h with a mean peak concentration of 8·5 mg/1. The mean serum elimination half-life was 3.5 h and the AUC0-∞p 60.4 mg/h.l. There was no accumulation of the drug in the patients studied after five days treatment. The data suggest that the standard dosage regimen is adequate in the sick elderly patient. © 1991 The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.