[Blood, urine and bile levels of ampicillin during continuous intravenous infusion]

During and after continuous i.v. infusion of 0.25 g ampicillin (Binotal-R) per hour, serum and urine concentrations were determined in 6 healthy adults (volunteers) and in 12 geriatric patients with normal liver and kidney function. In old persons serum levels were higher and after the end of infusion decreased more slowly than in young adults. These data may be explained by a lower capillary permeability and renal clearance in older people. In patients with T-tube drainage after cholecystectomy, bile levels of ampicillin (during i.v. continuous infusion of 0.25 g/h) were equal to double those in serum. Recovery from the file was calculated as 0.1-0.2 percent.