Antibiotics in human hematoma and wound fluid

Using the total hip replacement patient, we measured the level of antibiotic in the wound at the time of surgery, the wound drainage for 36 to 48 hours after surgery and over a 10 day period in incubated surgical debris obtained at the time of total hip replacement. The antibiotics sodium oxacillin, lincomycin hydrochloride and sodium cephalothin were administered in standard doses at 6 hour intervals. In one group of patients the antibiotic was begun at the time of surgery, in a second group the antibiotic was begun 24 hours after the completion of surgery. Sodium oxacillin, lincomycin hydrochloride and sodium cephalothin produce antibiotic levels in the venous serum consistently above the level obtained in the simultaneous would drainage specimens. Sodium oxacillin and lincomycin hydrochloride used as described in this study are capable of bathing the area of the surgical wound with concentrations of antibiotics above the minimal inhibitory concentrations. This is evidenced by the antibiotic levels above minimal inhibitory concentrations found in the wound drainage. Sodium cephalothin levels in the wound drainage were below measurable levels in 3 of 4 patients. Sodium oxacillin and lincomycin hydrochloride antibiotic levels in the surgical wound debris and simultaneous venous clotted specimens diminished progressively in a similiar manner indicating no additional effects of the surgical wound debris on the antibiotic's biologic effectiveness. Sodium cephalothin dropped below measurable levels in three days. Measurable levels of antibiotics appeared in the wound aspirate well above the minimal inhibitory concentration in patients receiving their initial dose of sodium oxacillin 24 hours after surgery.