Abstract
Pharmacokinetic studies and clinical evaluations of cefmenoxime (CMX) were carried out in perinatal mothers and infants. The following results obtained are summarized as follows.
1. CMX was promptly absorbed upon intravenous injection in pregnant women, reached dose-related peak serum level shortly after administration. Placental penetration into the fetus occured quickly and at high levels. After intravenous injection of 1g of CMX, drug concentrations in the cord blood and amniotic fluid exceeded MICs of main pathogenic organisms.
The drug transferred into newborn infants were followed by measuring serum level of the newborn. These levels were related to levels of umbilical cord blood and the drug was eliminated gradually from the newborn without accumulation.
According to the above results, it appears possible to successfully prevent or treat perinatal infections, through administration of the dose of 1 g twice daily.
2. Clinically, CMX was effective in the treatment of perinatal infections and prophylaxis of intra-uterine amniotic infections without any severe side effect.
3. Moreover, newborn infants delivered from mothers receiving CMX treatment were without abnormalities in laboratory test results.
4. The penetration of CMX into mother's milk was hardly observed and the transferance from milk to newborn infants appeared to be occur only at very low levels.
The above results have demonstrated that CMX is a clinically useful antibiotic for prophylaxis and treatment of perinatal infections.
