[Serum concentrations and kinetics after intravenous infusion of four grams of cefazolin (author's transl)]. / Serumkonzentrationen und Kinetik nach Kurzinfusion von vier Gramm Cefazolin.

The pharmacokinetics of cefazolin were studied in 25 males and females after administration of 4 g infused over 60 minutes. The mean microbiologically active concentration of cefazolin in serum five minutes after discontinuing the infusion was 410 microgram/ml, after 60 minutes 190 microgram/ml and after 8 hours 8.5 microgram/ml. After 8 hours 84% of the drug was eliminated in the urine of four of the volunteers. The mean serum half-life was 87.38 minutes in the one compartment model, and the volume of distribution 9.20 1. The area under the curve was 44626.15 microgram.min.ml-1. The mean value for the clearance was 73.5 ml/min. The importance of high dosages of cefazolin in severe infections caused by cefazolin-sensitive organisms is discussed. Side-effects were not observed.