Determination of cefuroxime in human blood and urine using UHPLC-MS/MS and its application to stability study of cefuroxime over 278 days

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Purpose: Forensically, the widespread use of antibiotics necessitates methods for their detection in biological materials to ascertain their role in adverse reactions or fatalities. Given the need to conduct toxicological studies on materials stored for extended periods under various temperature conditions, research on antibiotic stability in biological matrices over such durations is crucial for accurate toxicological assessments. Methods: The stability of cefuroxime in blood and urine was determined for 278 days at three different temperatures: -15°C, +4°C, +23°C. The analyses were conducted using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry. Results: The method met all validation requirements. This study also describes the results of the thermal stability of cefuroxime. Cefuroxime showed the greatest stability at -15°C and was highly unstable at room temperature (+23°C) in all types of studied biological matrices. Conclusions: The study confirms instability of cefuroxime in blood and urine samples. Therefore, the analysis of this antibiotic in biological matrices for purposes such as forensic toxicology should be performed as soon as possible after sampling to avoid decline in concentration. In cases of prolonged material storage, the concentrations should be cautiously interpreted in the prepared expertise.