[Fluid carbenicillin levels after intravenous administration].

Area of Science:

• Pharmacokinetics and infectious disease research.
• Clinical microbiology and neurosurgery.

Context:

• Evaluating antibiotic penetration into the central nervous system is crucial for treating neurosurgical infections.
• Postoperative monitoring of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antibiotic levels is essential for patient management.

Purpose:

• To determine carbenicillin concentrations in CSF and serum following intravenous administration.
• To assess the efficacy of carbenicillin in controlling gram-negative infections within the CSF.

Summary:

• Carbenicillin concentrations were measured in the CSF and serum of patients undergoing posterior cranial fossa surgery and in hydrocephalic patients.
• Lumbar punctures were performed daily post-surgery, and CSF drainage was used in hydrocephalic patients.
• Therapeutic levels of carbenicillin in the CSF were achieved, demonstrating potential for controlling gram-negative pathogens like Proteus.

Impact:

• Provides evidence for the successful use of intravenous carbenicillin in treating CNS infections.
• Highlights the importance of CSF drug level monitoring for optimizing antibiotic therapy in neurosurgical patients.
• Suggests carbenicillin as a viable option against challenging gram-negative bacteria in the CNS environment.