The therapeutic efficacy, adverse reactions and usefulness of ceftizoxime (FK 749, CZX) were objectively compared with those of cefazolin (CEZ) in 228 patients with pneumonia or chronic respiratory tract infection in a double-blind comparative study at 31 institutions in Japan. Patients were given daily 4 g of ceftizoxime or cefazolin in 2 divided doses by i. v. drip infusion for, in principle, 14 days. The results were as follows:
1) No significant difference was observed between the therapeutic efficacy of ceftizoxime 4g/day and that of cefazolin 4g/day.
2) The improvement in chest rile in patients with pneumonia or lung abscess was significantly better in the ceftizoxime group than in the cefazolin group on the 3 rd day of dosing. The improvement in CRP was significantly better in the cefazolin group than in the ceftizoxime group on the 14 th day of dosing. The improvement in erythrocyte sedimentation rate of patients with respiratory tract infection except pneumonia and lung abscess was significantly better in the ceftizoxime group than in the cefazolin group on the 3 rd day.
3) No significant difference was observed between the two drug groups in bacteriological efficacy against causative organisms isolated from patients.
4) Significant differences were noted between the two drug groups in incidence of side effects; fever occurred in many patients of the ceftizoxime group (Fever was attributed to contamination by trace amounts of impurities).
5) No significant difference in usefulness was observed between the two drug groups. These findings suggest that the therapeutic efficacy of ceftizoxime 4g/day was almost the same as that of cefazolin 4g/day, but it was impossible to compare accurately the efficacy and safety of ceftizoxime occured very frequently.

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The therapeutic efficacy, adverse reactions and usefulness of ceftizoxime (FK 749, CZX) were objectively compared with those of cefazolin (CEZ) in 230 patients with chronic respiratory tract infection or pneumonia in the well controlled study at 33 institutions in Japan. Patients were given daily ceftizoxime 2 g or cefazolin 4 g by i. v. drip infusion for, in principle, 14 days. The results were as follows:
1) No significant difference in therapeutic efficacy was observed between the patients with respiratory tract infection given ceftizoxime 2g/day and cefazolin 4g/day.
2) The therapeutic efficacy of ceftizoxime 2g/day was significantly superior to that of cefazolin 4g/day except in patients with elevated mycoplasmal antibody and/or cold hemagglutinin titer.
3) The improvement in sputum volume of patients with pneumonia or lung abscess was significantly better in the cefazolin group than in the ceftizoxime group on the 3rd day of dosing and in patients with respiratory tract infection except pneumonia and lung abscess, on the 14th day of dosing.
4) The eradication rate of causative organisms isolated from patients was significantly higher in the ceftizoxime group than in the cefazolin group.
5) No significant difference was noted between the two drug groups in incidence of adverse react. ions.
These findings suggest that the therapeutic efficacy of ceftizoxime 2g/day on bacterial respiratory tract infection is more excellent than that of cefazolin 4g/day.

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Sodium colistin methanesulfonate (CLM), a polypeptide antibiotic, was administered intravenously to ICR-JCL mice at dosage levels of 60, 125 and 250mg/kg/day to determine its effects on the reproductive process and fetal development. Male mice were continuously treated from day 63 prior to mating through copulation, and female mice from day 14 before mating through day 7 of gestation. Results were obtained as follows;
1. CLM did not affect general behavior, body weight, food consumption, mating performance and fertility in all the treated groups of both sexes.
2. CLM did not affect general behavior and food consumption in pregnant mice, but body weight gain of dams was increased in 125 and 250mg/kg groups.
3. There were no significant differences between the control group and the treated groups in number of implantations, live fetuses, resorptions in the uterus and sex ratio. However, body weight of live fetuses and weight of placentas were increased in 125 and 250mg/kg groups.
4. No significant increase of the prevalence of external, Visceral and skeletal anomalies of the fetuses was observed in any treated group. The progress of ossification was not affected, either.
It can be concluded that CLM, at lower dosage than 60mg/kg, has no unfavorable influence on fertility and fetal development in mice.

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Teratogenicity study of sodium colistin methanesulfonate (CLM) was performed with ICR-JCL mice. CLM was administered intravenously at dosage levels of 125, 250 and 500mg/kg/day from day 6 to day 15 of gestation. About two-thirds of pregnant mice in each group were sacrificed on day 18 of gestation and their fetuses were examined. The remaining mothers were allowed to deliver naturally.
Results were obtained as follows;
1. CLM did not affect general behavior, body weight and food consumption in pregnant mice.
2. There were no significant differences between the control group and the treated groups in number of implantations, live fetuses, resorptions in the uterus, body weight of live fetuses, sex ratio and weight of placentas.
3. No significant increase of the prevalence of external, visceral and skeletal anomalies of the fetuses was observed in any treated group.
4. The ossifications of cervical and sacral vertebrae were delayed by treatment with CLM at dosage levels of 250 and 500mg/kg.
5. The were no significant differences between the control and the treated groups of delivery in duration of pregnancy, number and body weight of liveborn, sex ratio, number of implantation sites, delivery rate and nuring rate. Moreover, no stillborn and external anomaly of liveborn were observed in any treated group of delivery.
6. CLM did not affect postnatal growth, development and differentiation in newborn mice.
7. CLM did not affect sensory function of reflex, motor coordination, emotionality and learning ability in newborn mice. But, spontaneous activity of both sexes was reduced by treatment with CLM at dosage levels of 250 and 500mg/kg.
It can be concluded that CLM, in this study, has little unfavorable influence on fetuses and newborn mice, and that the maximum non-toxic level of CLM is 125mg/kg in mice.

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The rapid and accurate estimation of serum levels of antimicrobial agents would be most valuable for the chemotherapy of the infection on compromised host.
For the purpose, we established a new simple method using fluorescein polarization technique. This method does not require any enzyme or isotope. Many fundamental experiments about this method were carried out using gentamicin as an antimicrobial agent, and the JIMCO IBF-129 as a fluorescence polarization analyzer. As the results, this method revealed to be simple reliable method for the measurement of serum gentamicin level. The characteristics of this method are as follows. The advantages are (1) to require only about half an hour and no skillfulness.(2) to show good correlation to ordinary bioassay.(3) to display no cross reaction to other antibiotics.(4) to need no more than 5μl of sera.
The disadvantages are (1) to have relatively narrow detectable range and (2) to demand a specific fluorimeter.

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