Ceftobiprole quantification in human serum by HPLC-UV to implement routine TDM in clinical practice

Abstract

Background and aimsCeftobiprole is a recent 5th generation parenteral cephalosporin with antibacterial activity against a large range Gram+ and Gram− bacteria. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is an essential tool for maintaining plasma concentrations of antibiotics above the MIC by the end of the dosing interval, thus preventing the resistant strain diffusion. TDM is already recommended for other cephalosporins, and it is a reasonable tool contributing to the safety and efficacy of these drugs. During the treatment of patients in real-life, a number of pharmacokinetic (PK) changes not normally seen in healthy volunteers can occur which can impair the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic target attainment.We aimed to develop simple and rapid HPLC-UV method for determination of ceftobiprole in human serum to implement TDM in clinical practice and support PKs and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) studies. Materials and methodsSamples preparation of calibration standards, QC, and anonymous patients serum samples was performed by protein precipitation by adding 0.01 ml of sulphosalicylic acid at 30 % to 0.1 ml of each sample. Then samples were vortexed and the centrifuged at 12,000 rpm for 10 min at 4 °C. Fifty microlitres of clear supernatant were diluted 1:1 with mobile phase and transferred into HPLC autosampler held at 8 °C. Chromatographic separation was carried out in a gradient mode at 35 °C on an ultra-Biphenyl column using a Thermo Scientific chromatographic system with a Diode array. Data management was performed with Chromeleon 7.4 software. ResultsThe HPLC-UV method proved to be linear over wide concentration ranges (0.5–50.0 mg/L) and was accurate and reproducible in the absence of matrix effects, allowing for robust, specific, and rapid quantification of ceftobiprole from a low amount of serum (0.1 mL). The mean steady state Ctrough and Cend values measured in the anonymous patients’ samples were 6.26 ± 3.81 mg/L and 22.56 ± 15.69 mg/L, respectively. ConclusionsWe report a broadened simple and fast HPLC with UV detection method for quantification of ceftobiprole in human serum to implement ceftobiprole TDM as clinical routine, and support future (PK/PD) studies in special patients’ population.