Abstract
Pharmacokinetic parameters of pazufloxacin cefteram pivoxil faropenem cefditoren pivoxil and sparfloxacin were studied in elderly patients with lower respiratory tract infection. The values of Tmax and T1/2 in the elderly were higher for all drugs than in young healthy volunteers, although the values of Cmax showed no difference between the two groups. AUC values varied with the drug. We did notfind a relationship between pharmacokinetic parameters and the blood chemistry data in this study, although it is obvious that variation in drug pharmacokinetics depends upon liver and renal function. So it is important to know whether the route of excretion of the drug is via the urine or bile, when the elderly are treated with antimicrobial drugs. Even if blood chemistry data show a normal range, liver and renal functions in the elderly slowly decrease with age in general. In summary the adequate dose of an antimicrobial drug for the elderly should be carefully determind in the treatment of lower respiratory tract infection.
