Efficacy of cefquinome (INN) for the treatment of bovine mastitis

Cefquinome is the first 4th generation cephalosporin antibiotic developed for use in veterinary medicine. A European multicentre study established a high in vitro activity for this modern antimicrobial drug against a wide spectrum of bovine pathogens. Gram-positive and gram-negative mastitis agents were inactivated even at very low active ingredient concentrations, including Enterobacteriaceae which are often resistant to other drugs. The results of clinical trials using experimental E. coli mastitis as an example demonstrate the efficacy of cefquinome in vivo. Parenteral administration at a dose rate of 1 mg/kg body weight when compared with conventional therapy using a control drug with equally good in vitro activity, produced significantly better therapeutic results.