Influence of ceftizoxime on the immune system.

In the last few years the interest about the influence on host/parasite relations exerted by antibiotics has increased. In this study we have studied the effect of ceftizoxime, a third generation cephalosporin, on some functional parameters of human macrophages and granulocytes. Ceftizoxime does not seem to exert any stimulatory effect on phagocytosis and chemotaxis, but at the same time it allows these cells to explicate their functions during an infective process. A separate series of experiments was designed in order to investigate the immunogenicity of ceftizoxime and its immunological cross-reactivity versus other beta-lactam antibiotics. The low ELISA title of ceftizoxime indicates its weak immunogenic power. Cross-reactivity was also very low (title 1:25) when ceftizoxime was tested against the other antibiotics.