Cefepime: overview of activity in vitro and in vivo.

Article Details

Citation

Grassi GG, Grassi C

Cefepime: overview of activity in vitro and in vivo.

J Antimicrob Chemother. 1993 Nov;32 Suppl B:87-94.

PubMed ID
8150771 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Cefepime is a novel methoxyimino-aminothiazolyl cephalosporin with a quaternized N-methyl-pyrrolidine moiety at the 3' position conferring zwitterionic properties. Because of this the molecule penetrates the outer cell membrane of Gram-negative bacteria rapidly. In addition it is resistant to degradation by several plasmid and chromosomally-mediated beta-lactamases, for which it also shows very low affinity and no inducing capacity. It has good affinity for PBPs 2 and 3 of Escherichia coli and for PBP 3 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Its broad-spectrum of activity includes Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. It is more active than cefotaxime or ceftazidime, against Enterobacteriaceae. The MIC90 for P. aeruginosa is higher than that of ceftazidime, but lower than those of cefpirome, cefoperazone and latamoxef. Other Gram-negative organisms, Haemophilus influenzae, Neiserria meningitidis, Neiserria gonorrhoeae, Moraxella catarrhalis are highly susceptible to cefepime. Among Gram-positive species methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci, whether beta-lactamase producers or not, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes are susceptible. Cefepime is active against cefotaxime- and/or ceftazidime-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. Only strains of P. aeruginosa producing large amounts of beta-lactamase may be resistant to both ceftazidime and cefepime. In experimental infections such as meningitis, induced with various bacterial species in neonatal rats and chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis in rabbits, cefepime has shown good efficacy.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
CefepimePenicillin-binding protein 2ProteinEscherichia coli (strain K12)
Yes
Inhibitor
Details
CefepimePenicillin-binding protein 2ProteinPseudomonas aeruginosa
Unknown
Inhibitor
Details
CefepimePenicillin-binding protein 3ProteinPseudomonas aeruginosa
Yes
Inhibitor
Details
CefepimePeptidoglycan synthase FtsIProteinEscherichia coli (strain K12)
Yes
Inhibitor
Details