The absolute bioavailability of oral cefuroxime axetil in male and female volunteers after fasting and after food

Cefuroxime axetil is a novel oral cephalosporin. Two studies are described in which fasting male and female volunteers were given single oral doses of 1 g cefuroxime axetil in comparison with intravenous cefuroxime, and in which absorption was compared in the fasting and non-fasting states. The mean (and range) absolute bioavailability of cefuroxime axetil in the first study was 0.35 (0.26-0.44) in male volunteers and 0.32 (0.23-0.41) in female volunteers. In the second study, the bioavailability was significantly greater when cefuroxime axetil was given after food: 0.45 (0.34-0.55) in males and 0.41 (0.29-0.51) in females. There were no differences between the pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime axetil in males and females. It is recommended that patients take doses of cefuroxime axetil shortly after food.