The comparative bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities of cephalothin were assessed in broth medium with special reference to the period of exposure of microbes to the drug. The bacteriostatic concentration with a brief period of exposure (6 h) was lower than the conventional MIC for Escherichia coli and Klebsiella sp. When the period of exposure was prolonged (18-42 h), the bacteriostatic concentration almost corresponded with the MIC. In contrast to these gram-negatives, the bacteriostatic concentration with a brief period of exposure roughly corresponded with the MIC for strains of Staphylococcus aureus and was higher for enterococcus. When a comparison of the bacteriostatic and the bactericidal concentrations was used as the criterion for assessment, the mode of action of cephalothin appeared to be bactericidal to most of the gram-negatives. This drug was bacteriostatic to a number of strains of gram-positives, in particular to enterococcus, especially when microbes were exposed to the drug over a brief period of time.
