Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Cephalosporins in Cerebrospinal Fluid

Largely because of their low lipophilicity, cephalosporins poorly penetrate through the blood-brain barrier, achieving relatively low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations. However, the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of the extended spectrum cephalosporins for common meningeal pathogens are generally low; thus, therapeutic CSF drug concentrations several-fold greater than the MBC can be achieved with currently recommended dosage regimens. However, the effectiveness of cephalosporin therapy is unreliable in patients with meningitis caused by highly penicillin-resistant pneumococci.