Analysis of isoxazolyl penicillins and their metabolites in body fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography

Simultaneous determination of oxacillin and cloxacillin in plasma and CSF using turbulent flow liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry: Application in therapeutic drug monitoring

Cloxacillin and oxacillin are group M penicillins. The therapeutic monitoring of plasma concentrations of these antibiotics and those of their hydroxymethylated metabolites is of great clinical interest, especially in the choice of an adequate dosage allowing an effective treatment while limiting the occurrence of undesirable effects and the development of bacterial resistance. In this context, we conducted this work aiming at developing and validating a method allowing the determination of cloxacillin and oxacillin as well as the identification of their active metabolites in different biological matrices (CSF and plasma) using turbulent flow liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. To do this, we carried out several optimisation tests. Subsequently, we validated our method according to the latest bioanalytical validation recommendations of the European Medicines Agency. The validation results showed that our method is specific and sensitive. We obtained good linearity in the range 0.5 to 100 µg/mL with correlation coefficients above 0.995. The lower limit of quantification was 0.5 µg/mL for each analyte. The method was found to be accurate with repeatability and reproducibility coefficients of variation below 15 %. Our method is also accurate with bias values below 15 %. Recovery values ranged from 87 % to 95 %. Finally, we were able to apply our method to the therapeutic monitoring of the analysed molecules and to identify their active metabolites. Our results suggest that LC-MS shows superiority in the therapeutic monitoring of these antibiotics due to the superiority of specificity shown by this method. This assay method can be routinely used for the daily plasma assays of patients treated with these antibiotics in the context of therapeutic monitoring.

Population Pharmacokinetic Analysis Proves Superiority of Continuous Infusion in PK/PD Target Attainment with Oxacillin in Staphylococcal Infections

Considering its very short elimination half-life, the approved oxacillin dosage might not be sufficient to maintain the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) target of time-dependent antibiotics. This study aimed to describe the population pharmacokinetics of oxacillin and to explore the probability of PK/PD target attainment by using various dosing regimens with oxacillin in staphylococcal infections. Both total and unbound oxacillin plasma concentrations retrieved as a part of routine therapeutic drug-monitoring practice were analyzed using nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. Monte Carlo simulations were used to generate the theoretical distribution of unbound oxacillin plasma concentration-time profiles at various dosage regimens. Data from 24 patients treated with oxacillin for staphylococcal infection have been included into the analysis. The volume of distribution of oxacillin in the population was 11.2 L, while the elimination rate constant baseline of 0.73 h^-1 increased by 0.3 h^-1 with each 1 mL/s/1.73 m² of the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The median value of oxacillin binding to plasma proteins was 86%. The superiority of continuous infusion in achieving target PK/PD values was demonstrated and dosing according to eGFR was proposed. Daily oxacillin doses of 9.5 g, 11 g, or 12.5 g administered by continuous infusion have been shown to be optimal for achieving target PK/PD values in patients with moderate, mild, or normal renal function, respectively.

Flucloxacillin: A Review of Characteristics, Properties and Analytical Methods

Bacterial resistance is a growing and worrying factor. The high reproducibility of these resistant microorganisms tends to influence the development of new drugs and research related to product quality control. Among the existing antimicrobials, flucloxacillin (FLU) was designed for oral and injectable administration with bactericidal activity. FLU sodium is the form used in pharmaceutical formulations. It is an antimicrobial resistant against penicillinase, an enzyme responsible for cleaving the beta-lactam ring of penicilins, which leads to inactivity of the drug. Qualitative and quantitative analyzes are essential to ensure quality of pharmaceuticals and health of the population. It is important that quality control is effective and appropriate, only then we can win the battle against microbial resistance. In this work, we want to highlight tthe characteristics of FLU as an important antibiotic and methods for the determination of FLU in pharmaceutical products and biological matrices. Among the analytical methods described in the literature for the determination of FLU, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) stands out. Anyway, this method uses toxic solvents (e.g. acetonitrile) long columns, which provide long runs, as well as produces large amounts of waste. Currently, the priority changed to develop ecologically correct, conscious and sustainable methods. This new view on analytical methods should be applied to FLU analyzes and used to develop and improve existing methods.

Microanalysis of amoxicillin, flucloxacillin, and rifampicin in neonatal plasma

Simple and rapid reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic assays with ultraviolet detection have been developed and validated for the determination of amoxicillin, flucloxacillin and rifampicin in neonatal plasma. Plasma samples were either precipitated with perchloric acid (amoxicillin) or methanol (rifampicin) or extracted with methylene chloride (flucloxacillin). Precision coefficients of variation and inaccuracy were less than 15% for all three assays. Only small sample volumes (20-40 microL) were required, making the assays suitable for therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic studies in preterm and term neonates. The assays have successfully been applied to analysis of amoxicillin, flucloxacillin and rifampicin in previously published pharmacokinetic studies in neonates.

Population pharmacokinetics and dosing of flucloxacillin in preterm and term neonates

In total 235 flucloxacillin total (free+protein bound) plasma concentrations were determined in 55 neonates (gestational age 26 to 42 weeks, postnatal age 0 to 44 days) with reversed-phase HPLC in surplus plasma samples from routine gentamicin assays. Population pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated according to an one compartment open model with iterative two-stage Bayesian fitting (MWPHARM 3.50, Mediware, The Netherlands). Mean clearance corrected for weight was 0.18+/-0.10 L kgh and volume of distribution corrected for weight was 0.54+/-0.17 L/kg. Pearson correlations between the individual pharmacokinetic parameters and covariates, like gestational age, plasma creatinine, and gentamicin clearance, were low and therefore not relevant for use in clinical practice. Total plasma concentrations above 200 mg/L were considered toxic and T>MIC (time above minimum inhibitory free plasma concentration) of more than 40% was considered effective. Protein binding was assumed to be 86.3% in all neonates, based on literature. The current dosage regimen, 25 or 50 mg/kg every 8 or 12 hours, did not result in effective plasma concentrations for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus in 17 (31%) of the 55 neonates. Therefore, the authors suggest an initial dose of 25 mg/kg/4 h for all neonates, irrespective of their age, based on the breakpoint MIC value of flucloxacillin for Staphylococcus aureus (2.0 mg/L). After isolation of the causative agent of infection, flucloxacillin administration ought to be reconsidered based on the expected susceptibility pattern of the isolate. When oxacillin sensitive coagulase negative staphylococci are isolated, the initial dose should be reduced to 10 mg/kg/6 h, based on the breakpoint MIC value of 0.25 mg/L. Simulation with these new dosage regimens indicated that satisfactory plasma concentrations were reached in 52 of the 55 neonates. However, the regimens need prospective verification. Moreover, the exact role of neonatal protein binding needs to be further investigated.

Liquid chromatographic assay for dicloxacillin in plasma

A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of dicloxacillin in plasma has been developed. The method only requires 0.5 ml of plasma, phosphate buffer solution (pH = 4.7), acidification with 0.5N hydrochloride acid and liquid extraction with dichloromethane. Posterior evaporation of organic under nitrogen steam and redissolution in mobile phase is carried out. The analysis was performed on a Spherisorb C18 (5 microm) column, using methanol -0.05 M phosphate buffer, pH = 4.7 (75:25; v/v) as mobile phase, with ultraviolet detection at 220 nm. Results showed that the assay is sensitive: 0.5 microg/ml. The response is linear in the range of 0.5 - 10 microg/ml. Maximum inter-day coefficient of variation was 12.4%. Mean extraction recovery obtained was 96.95%. Stability studies showed that the loss was not higher than 10%, samples are stable at room temperature for 6 h, at -20 Celsius for 2 months, processed samples were stable at least for 24 h and also after two freeze-thaw cycles. The method has been used to perform pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence studies in humans.

No effect of diclofenac on the pharmacokinetics of cloxacillin

We studied the influence of diclofenac on the pharmacokinetics of cloxacillin in healthy volunteers, 60 years or older, as well as the possible effect of cloxacillin and diclofenac on urinary protein excretion. In a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study 15 subjects were given 1 g cloxacillin, and placebo or 75 mg diclofenac, as single intravenous doses. Plasma concentrations of cloxacillin were followed over 10.5 hr, and urine excretion of cloxacillin over 24 hr. The effect of the drugs on urinary excretion of protein indicators of glomerular (albumin, IgG) and tubular (protein HC) function was also studied. Total plasma clearance of cloxacillin was with placebo 219 +/- 51 (mean +/- S.D.), and with diclofenac 212 +/- 39 ml/min./1.73 m2 (ns); renal clearance was 97 +/- 21 and 96 +/- 24 ml/min./1.73 m2, respectively (ns). The terminal t1/2 of cloxacillin was 1.03 +/- 0.42 hr with placebo, and 1.12 +/- 0.37 with diclofenac (ns). The mean ratio of AUC0-infinity's (cloxacillin plus diclofenac/cloxacillin plus placebo) was 1.03 (90% CI: 0.99, 1.08). Urinary excretion of the proteins was low and was not increased by cloxacillin or diclofenac. In healthy volunteers, 60 years or older, diclofenac does not alter cloxacillin pharmacokinetics, and neither cloxacillin nor diclofenac in single intravenous doses cause renal dysfunction.

Pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of flucloxacillin in elderly hospitalized patients

The pharmacokinetics and oral bioavailability of flucloxacillin were studied in five female and two male patients (age 68-87 yr) who had been hospitalized for orthopedic surgeries. A single dose of intravenous or oral flucloxacillin sodium (500 mg) was administered in random order on different occasions separated by at least 2 days. Blood and urine samples were taken up to 24 hours after drug administration and levels of flucloxacillin and 5-hydroxymethylflucloxacillin (5-HMF), a major metabolite, were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Flucloxacillin elimination, but not oral absorption, was reduced in the elderly, compared with data from young healthy subjects reported elsewhere. Total clearance, renal clearance, and volume of distribution were 0.083 +/- 0.013 L/kg/hr, 0.038 +/- 0.01 L/kg/hr, and 0.184 +/- 0.034 L/kg, respectively. Regression of flucloxacillin renal clearance (Clr) on estimated creatine clearance (CLcr) gave the relationship: Clr = 0.755 (CLcr) + 10.6 (r = 0.91; P = 0.004). Terminal half-lives for flucloxacillin and 5-HMF were 2.21 +/- 0.51 hr and 3.0 +/- 0.75 hr, respectively after intravenous administration. Flucloxacillin was absorbed rapidly after oral administration with a mean absorption time of 0.95 +/- 0.34 hr, and time to reach peak concentration of 1.20 +/- 0.29 hr. The absolute bioavailability of flucloxacillin from capsules was 54.4 +/- 18.8%.

Rapid column liquid chromatographic analysis of flucloxacillin in plasma on a microparticulate pre-column

A rapid, sensitive, accurate and precise high-performance liquid chromatographic assay is described for flucloxacillin in plasma. Samples (100 microliters) containing dicloxacillin (internal standard) were extracted with ethyl acetate (2 ml). The mobile phase of acetonitrile (18%, v/v) in phosphate buffer (0.01 M, pH 7) was pumped at 1.2 ml/min through a 40 x 3.2 mm I.D. column (3 microns particles). Detection was at 220 nm. Calibration plots were linear (r > 0.9995) from 0.2 to 40 mg/l. Within-day and between-day coefficients of variation were less than 9% (n = 6). The detection limit was 0.05 mg/l and the limit of quantitation was 0.3 mg/l. Of 24 drugs tested, only phenytoin and carbamazepine may interfere in some patients' samples.

Chromatographic methods of analysis for penicillins in food-animal tissues and their significance in regulatory programs for residue reduction and avoidance

Chromatographic methods for penicillin analysis in animal tissues play a significant role in the regulation of the use of these drugs in livestock production. Regulatory agencies rely on data generated from these methods to establish withdrawal times and to determine whether presumptive positive tissue samples from slaughtered animals intended for human consumption contain violative levels of penicillins to necessitate regulatory action. The need to develop sensitive, accurate, and reliable methods to support regulatory programs is examined together with emerging techniques that could be taken advantage of to improve the sensitivity and usefulness of current chromatographic methods for tomorrow's regulatory agency.

Pharmacokinetics of drugs in cystic fibrosis

Considerable work has been conducted on patients with CF to clearly demonstrate enhanced clearances of many, but not all drugs. The precise mechanisms for enhanced drug clearance in CF remain to be elucidated, and it will be important to examine the two major organs of drug elimination, the kidney and liver, for answers to these questions. Although it has not been studied to date, the role of the lung as a contributor to enhanced drug clearance in CF needs to be considered as well. In the liver it appears that both hepatic biotransformation as well as biliary excretion may be enhanced. In the kidney, there is enhanced CL of acidic drugs, but variable findings for cationic and zwitterionic drugs. The latter finding can be explained on the basis of the pKa of the drugs and the urine pH. It would be most appealing if enhanced renal and nonrenal clearance of drugs in CF could be attributed to a common single defect. At this time, there is no obvious candidate, although altered transmembrane transport would represent a place to start.

Optimization of high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis for isoxazolyl penicillins using factorial design

A 3 X 3 factorial design has been used to study the effects of pH and acetonitrile concentration of the eluents on the retention and resolution of cloxacillin, flucloxacillin and dicloxacillin on a C18 column. The logarithm of the capacity factors of these solutes have been found to vary linearly with the pH and quadratically with the acetonitrile content. The equations generated have been employed to predict experimental conditions necessary for an optimum separation. The chromatographic condition selected has been applied to the quantitation of flucloxacillin in human plasma using dicloxacillin as the interval standard. Sample preparation consists of protein precipitation and solid-phase extraction. The detection limit of the assay at 220 nm for flucloxacillin is in the region of 0.1 microgram/ml. This assay has been employed in a study of the relative bioavailability of two commercial flucloxacillin sodium capsules in ten healthy volunteers.

Determination of benzylpenicillin and probenecid in human body fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography

A method for the determination of benzylpenicillin and probenecid concentrations in human body fluids using ion-pair reversed-phase chromatography with UV detection has been developed. For plasma samples two extraction techniques were investigated. Precipitation of the plasma proteins with acetonitrile followed by liquid-liquid extraction offered the best results. The limits of detection were 0.5 microgram/ml for benzylpenicillin and 0.25 microgram/ml for probenecid, which offer sufficient sensitivity for application in pharmacokinetic experiments.

19F NMR spectroscopy study of the metabolites of flucloxacillin in rat urine

19F NMR spectroscopy was used to monitor the metabolites of flucloxacillin in the urine of a rat dosed with its sodium salt. 19F NMR signals were detected and quantified from flucloxacillin and three metabolites. The 19F NMR method involves minimal sample preparation and is free from interference by endogenous urine components. High-field spin-echo 1H NMR spectroscopy and HPLC were used to confirm the results.

Degradation of azlocillin in human serum

We developed a rapid and precise high performance liquid chromatographic method (HPLC) for the determination of azlocillin and its metabolites penicilloate and penilloate in serum and tissue as well as in vivo as in vitro. The linear relationship (r greater than 0.99) of determination ranged between 0.05 and 10 micrograms. No interference with other serum components was observed. The metabolism of azlocillin in vitro was analysed in serum. Within 24 h the amount of penicilloate increased from 1.5% up to 18% and from penilloate up to 1% respectively. Buffer controls revealed a significant lower metabolism (4.7% penicilloate, 0.9% penilloate). These data suggest that the degradation of azlocillin does not only depend on bacterial beta-lactamase activity but is influenced by enzymatic activities within serum and human tissue.

Antibiotic monitoring in body fluids

Analytical procedures recently described for the quantitative determination of antibiotics in body fluids are reviewed. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and immunoassays appear as an alternative to current microbiological assays. HPLC has been applied to most antibiotics in clinical use and a major part of the review deals with this technique. Attention is given to sample pretreatment, characteristics of chromatography and detection, and limit of sensitivity. Non-isotopic immunoassays have been essentially applied to aminoglycosides and vancomycin and are also reviewed. Advantages and drawbacks of HPLC and immunoassays are presented.

Cloxacillin absorption and disposition in cystic fibrosis

Because of reports of lowered antibiotic serum concentrations in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), a bioavailability and pharmacokinetic study of cloxacillin was conducted in 12 control and 16 patients with CF after intravenously and orally administered doses of cloxacillin 25 mg/kg. The patients had mild to moderate CF and were in stable condition. Significantly lower serum concentrations in CF were a result of a 78% increase in total body clearance (P less than 0.005) and a 38% increase in the apparent volume of distribution (P less than 0.025). The bioavailability in CF (0.50) was not significantly different than in controls (0.38), but more variability was seen in the group with CF. After the intravenously given dose the fraction of cloxacillin excreted in the urine unchanged was similar in controls (0.644) and patients with CF (0.547). Compared with that in the control subjects, the mean renal clearance in patients with CF was 30% greater (P less than 0.10) and the nonrenal clearance was 144% greater (P less than 0.07). Enhanced nonrenal clearance explains most of the demonstrated difference between serum concentrations in controls and patients with CF after identical weight-adjusted doses. The data suggest enhanced cloxacillin biotransformation in CF.

The metabolic disposition of flucloxacillin in patients with impaired kidney function

The fate of flucloxacillin and its active metabolite hydroxyflucloxacillin was studied in a group of patients with impaired kidney function. Flucloxacillin was administered orally or intravenously. Peak levels of hydroxyflucloxacillin were obtained between 150 and 250 min after the administration of flucloxacillin. The plasma concentrations obtained after a therapeutic dose of flucloxacillin were well above the concentration (i.e. 1-2 microgram/ml) generally considered to be the effective minimum for isoxalyl penicillins. The plasma half life of the metabolite was twice as long as that of flucloxacillin (295 min and 154 min, respectively). The nonprotein-bound fraction of hydroxyflucloxacillin in plasma from patients was twice as large as that of its parent compound (16.2 vs. 8.1%). This was also observed in normal human plasma, although protein binding in the latter was higher than in uraemic plasma. Some accumulation of hydroxyflucloxacillin may occur during flucloxacillin therapy with dosage intervals of 6 h.