The bactericidal activity and the postantibiotic effect (PAE) of cefdinir (Cl 983, FK 482) (CDR), were determined against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Branhamella catarrhalis and Escherichia coli (5 strains each) in comparison to erythromycin (E), cotrimoxazole (SXT) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (AMC). Kinetic studies of kill showed that CDR was rapidly bactericidal at concentrations 2 and 4 times the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): a reduction of 99.9% in CFU values was observed after 6-8 h for many of the isolates tested. As expected, a PAE was observed when S. aureus was treated with CDR at MIC (range of individual values for 5 strains 0.8-1.5 h) and 4 x MIC (range 1.1-1.4 h). Moreover, CDR showed a significant PAE at both its MIC and 4 x MIC against S. pneumoniae (range 0.5-1.0 h and 0.9-1.1 h), H. influenzae (range 0.4-0.7 h and 0.4-0.8 h), B. catarrhalis (range 0.5-0.7 h and 0.65-0.95 h) and E. coli (range 0.5-0.6 h and 0.5-0.7 h). The good bactericidal activity and the significant PAE of CDR against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (including respiratory pathogens) are a promising indication for the clinical efficacy of this cephalosporin in several bacterial infections.