Pharmacokinetics and dosage regimen of cefepime in healthy goats following intramuscular administration

The disposition kinetics and dosage regimen of cefepime were investigated in goats following a single intramuscular administration of cefepime (10 mg.kg⁻¹ body weight). Pharmacokinetic data after intramuscular administration was best described by one-compartment open model. The peak plasma concentration of cefepime at 30 min was 20.5 ± 0.31 μg.ml⁻¹, which decreased to 0.20 ± 0.01 μg.ml⁻¹ at 24 h. The absorption half-life and elimination halflife were 0.18 ± 0.02 h and 2.50 ± 0.05 h, respectively. The area under plasma concentration time curve (AUC), apparent volume of distribution (Vd_area), total plasma clearance and mean residence time were 63.3 ± 2.32 μg.ml⁻¹.h⁻¹, 0.52 ± 0.02 L.kg⁻¹, 0.211 ± 0.01 L.kg⁻¹.h⁻¹ and 3.94 ± 0.04 h, respectively. The systemic bioavailability (F) of cefepime in goats was 76.9 ± 2.78 per cent. To maintain a minimum therapeutic plasma concentration of cefepime as 1.0 μg.ml⁻¹, a satisfactory dosage regimen of cefepime through i.m. route should be 12.3 mg.kg⁻¹ followed by 11.9 mg.kg⁻¹ repeated at 12 h intervals.