Single-dose pharmacokinetics of cefodizime in critically ill elderly patients.

Cefodizime is an extended-spectrum third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic that is widely used in the treatment of severe infections of the respiratory and urinary tracts. Pharmacokinetic characteristics of cefodizime were assessed in 13 critically ill elderly patients (median age 73+/-6 years). The mean cefodizime peak serum concentration following a single 2g cefodizime infusion was 219+/-58 mg/L and the mean trough level 12 h after infusion was 29+/-17 mg/L. The elimination half-life was 6.19+/-2.45 h. Total body clearance, area under the plasma concentration-time curve and volume of distribution were 35.8+/-13.2 mL/min, 1089.4+/-505.3 mg h/L and 17.4+/-6.3 L, respectively. Pharmacokinetics of cefodizime in critically ill elderly patients were comparable with those reported previously in healthy volunteers.