Ceftibuten is an orally bioavailable broad-spectrum cephalosporin antibiotic that inhibits the growth of B. catarrhalis, H. influenzae, pathogenic Neisseria, Streptococcus, penicillin-susceptible S. pneumoniae, and eleven Enterobacteriaceae strains (MICs = 0.25, ≤0.06, ≤0.06, 0.5-1, 4, and ≤0.06-0.5 μg/ml, respectively).1,2 Ceftibuten is also active against E. coli expressing β-lactamase type I, III, and V and K. oxytoca expressing β-lactamase type IV (MICs = 8, 0.25, 0.5, and ≤0.06 μg/ml, respectively) as well as a panel of eight bacterial stains expressing plasmid-encoded extended spectrum β-lactamases, including E. coli CTX-M and K. pneumoniae SHV-2 (MICs = 1 and 0.25 μg/ml, respectively). In vivo, ceftibuten reduces the number of mice killed within 6 days of a K. pneumoniae, E. coli, S. pneumoniae, or S. aureus infection by 50% when administered subcutaneously at doses of 0.125, 2, 1,024, and >512 mg/kg, respectively.3 Formulations containing ceftibuten have been used in the treatment of bacterial infections including bronchitis, pneumonia, and enteritis.
1.Bauernfeind, A.Ceftibuten and bactericidal kinetics. Comparative in vitro activity against Enterobacteriaceae producing extended spectrum β-lactamasesDiagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis.14(1)89-92(1991) 2.Jones, R.N., and Barry, A.L.Antimicrobial activity, spectrum, and recommendations for disk diffusion susceptibility testing of ceftibuten (7432-S; SCH 39720), a new orally administered cephalosporinAntimicrob. Agents Chemother.32(10)1576-1582(1988) 3.Onyeji, C.O., Nicolau, D.P., Nightingale, C.H., et al.Optimal times above MICs of ceftibuten and cefaclor in experimental intra-abdominal infectionsAntimicrob. Agents Chemother.38(5)1112-1117(1994)