Bacteria. The 853 isolates of gram-negative species and 296 isolates of gramn-positive species were predominantly of recent clinical origin from numerous sources of broad geographical distribution. The isolates were stored as described previously (2, 4). The 3-lactamase-producing strains used to generate the data in Table 3

Cefepime (BMY 28142) is a new aminothiazolyl methoximinocephalosporin whose antibacterial spectrum (1, 6,8,16,18,20) has been established. Therapeutic efficacy in systemically infected mice (8, 12), effectiveness in treating meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in rabbits (19), and S. agalactiae and Escherichia coli infections in newborn rats (9) have also been studied. This report compares the efficacies of cefepime, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, and moxalactam in experimental bacterial meningitis. Infections were established intracranially in mice, using S. pneumoniae, S. agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In neonatal rats, S. pneumoniae, S. agalactiae, and Haemophilus influenzae were introduced intracisternally.MATERIALS AND METHODS Antibiotics. Cefepime sulfate salt was prepared at BristolMyers Co., Syracuse, N.Y. Ceftazidime pentahydrate, cefotaxime sodium, and moxalactam disodium were provided by