The influence of cefprozil on intestinal bacterial flora

Cefprozil (CFPZ, BMY-28100), a new oral cephalosporin antibiotic, was studied for its effect on the intestinal bacterial flora in pediatric patients. The subjects were children admitted for infections (2 males and 2 females, 9 months to 6 years 3 months old, weighed 4.3 to 19.0 kg). CFPZ granule was orally administered at a dose between 10.0 to 11.6mg/kg, 3 doses daily, over 4 to 14 days. The feces from these children were collected before, during and after administration, and bacteria were identified and counted. CFPZ concentration, β-lactamase activity were also assayed. Bacterial flora in feces during CFPZ administration showed some variance, but no significant change was observed in main aerobes and anaerobes. And in no case, glucose nonfermentative Gram-negative bacilli or fungi were found dominant. β-Lactamase activity was positive in the feces in all cases. CFPZ concentrations were not detectalbe in feces before, during and after administration. The above results suggest that CFPZ is a drug with little influence on the intestinal bacterial flora in children.