In vitro, cefotaxime and cefodizime enhanced significantly the bactericidal activity of human neutrophils against Staphylococcus aureus P 209 A, but not phagocytosis. The increase was about 150% for cefotaxime and 400% for cefodizime at concentrations as low as 1 mg/l. Furthermore, by two different techniques (NBT and cytochrome C reduction tests) cefotaxime but not cefodizime significantly enhanced superoxide anion production by zymosan-stimulated neutrophils. Other neutrophil functions (chemotaxis and myeloperoxidase-mediated iodination of proteins) were not significantly altered by either antibiotic, even at concentrations as high as 1000 mg/l.