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. 1961 Apr;16(2):170–179. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1961.tb00310.x

Some biological properties of cephalosporin c and a derivative

M Jago, N G Heatley
PMCID: PMC1481959  PMID: 13789185

Abstract

Some biological properties of cephalosporin C and of a pyridinium derivative, “cephalosporin CA (pyridine),” were examined. Staphylococci, both penicillinase-producing and non-penicillinase-producing, and some other bacteria tested, were inhibited by 60 to 125 μg cephalosporin C/ml., and 5 to 20 μg cephalosporin CA (pyridine)/ml. The ratio of the activity of the two antibiotics varied for different organisms. Resistance developed slowly on repeated subculture of penicillinase-producing staphylococci in presence of either antibiotic. The minimum inhibitory concentration of cephalosporin CA (pyridine) upon penicillinase-producing staphylococci increased 4 to 8-fold with a 500-fold increase in inoculum size; with cephalosporin C there was a 2-fold increase. Their activity was not reduced by serum. Both substances were non-toxic. They were excreted quantitatively in the urine when given intravenously or subcutaneously to mice. After oral administration less than 5% of the dose was excreted. Cephalosporin CA (pyridine) was about 8 times more active than cephalosporin C in protecting mice from an experimental streptococcal infection, nine doses of 6.25 mg/kg affording complete protection.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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