[Methicillin levels in the human serum, pericardial effusion and myocardium]

The antibiotic level in the serum, pericardial fluid and myocardium of 11 patients prepared for heart surgery was tested by means of the agar-diffusion method after the intramuscular administration of 1 g of methicillin. The mean level after 1 to 3 hours was 14.7 mcg/ml in serum, 1.7 mcg/ml in the pericardial fluid and 8.2 mcg/g in the myocardium. In the case of drug sensitivity, the myocardial methicillin concentration is sufficient for the treatment of Gram-positive infections. If the infection is localized in the pericardium, higher doses, local applications, drug combination or complex therapy might be called for.