The pharmacokinetic parameters of cefepime were studied following single intravenous and intramuscular injection in healthy broiler chickens. Following a single intravenous injection of 100 mg cefepime/kg b. wt in healthy chickens, cefepime could be detected therapeutically for 24 hours post intravenous injection with mean value 0.21μg/ml. The serum concentration–time curve of cefepime following intravenous injection showed that the drug obeyed a two compartments open model with elimination half- life (t0.5(β) =4.54 h), volume of distribution (Vdss = 3.41L/kg) and total body clearance of the drug (CLtot= 0.916L/hr/kg). Following a single intramuscular administration of 100mg/kg body weight cefepime in healthy chickens, the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) was 14.42μg/ml was achieved at a maximum time (Tmax) of 2.12 h. The intramuscular bioavailability of cefepime in healthy chickens was 85.22%. The serum concentration of cefepime following intravenous and intramuscular administration could be detected till 24 hours and remaining above MIC for a majority of cefepime sensitive bacteria, this indicate that cefepime is the drug of choice for treatment of infection in broiler chickens. |
