Pharmacokinetics of cefotaxime in elderly patients.

With increasing age, the kidney shows a decrease in function as well as morphological changes. The principal cause of these changes is nephrosclerosis, which is considered to be one result of the systemic arteriosclerosis which progresses with age. A rapid increase in the incidence of nephrosclerosis is seen after 60 years of age (Maeda et al. 1981). Accordingly, when an antibiotic is to be administered to elderly patients , it is necessary to consider the dosage and administration method even in patients with a normal serum creatinine concentration and creatinine clearance, but especially in patients with decreased renal function. In the present study cefotaxime was administered to elderly patients, and the effects of ageassociated decreased renal function on the serum half-life and urinary excretion rate were studied. In addition, accumulation of cefotaxime was studied by administering it for 7 or more consecutive days.