Impact of cefuroxime administration on endotoxin (LPS) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) blood levels in patients suffering from acute pyelonephritis: a preliminary report.

It has been suggested that treatment of systemic infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria with beta-lactam agents might add to the inflammatory process by resulting in the release of endotoxins (LPS) upon death of the Gram-negative bacteria. To evaluate that hypothesis, 25 patients with acute pyelonephritis of Gram-negative aetiology were given intravenous cefuroxime 1.5 g tid.