Cefotaxime optimal dosage in adult patients. A reappraisal.

Cefotaxime, a third generation cephalosporin, is used throughout the world over a wide range of doses. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the rationale for determination of the optimal dosage and of adequate modes of administration. Among the factors determining in vivo activity, the most important are: (1) the time dependence of the antibacterial effect of cephalosporins, (2) the limited effect of increasing the drug concentration in contact with the bacteria and (3) the absence of a significant post-antibiotic effect.