Ceftriaxone is a broad spectrum parenteral cephalosporin that is eliminated through renal as well as biliary excretion. In order to characterize factors influencing the biliary excretion of ceftriaxone, and possible effects of this organic anion on biliary lipid transport, we studied six healthy volunteers before and during ceftriaxone infusion. The biliary secretion rates of cholesterol, bile acids, phospholipids and ceftriaxone were determined using a duodenal perfusion technique, and the biliary lipid composition and cholesterol saturation of stimulated hepatic bile were determined. Changes in the intestinal microflora induced by ceftriaxone treatment were also analysed. There was a three-fold interindividual variation in biliary excretion of ceftriaxone, and this was correlated with the secretion rate of bile acids (rs = 0.83, P = 0.05). During ceftriaxone infusion, the secretion rate of cholesterol was reduced by 32% (P less than 0.05), which resulted in a reduction of cholesterol saturation of bile, from 107 +/- 11 to 75 +/- 12% (SEM, P less than 0.05). The suppression of intestinal Escherichia coli and Bacteroides, and the proliferation of enterococci and lactobacilli were related to the biliary excretion of ceftriaxone. We conclude (i) that biliary excretion of ceftriaxone is of major importance for its effects on intestinal microflora, (ii) that secretion of this organic anion into bile is largely dependent on bile acid secretion, and (iii) that ceftriaxone inhibits the biliary secretion of cholesterol.