Cefazolin and cephalexin levels in prostatic tissue and sera

A study was carried out on 18 patients given cefazolin intramuscularly and 17 patients given cephalexin by mouth preoperatively prior to transurethral resection of the prostate. Prostatic tissue and serum levels of the two drugs were determined and contrasted with previously reported mean inhibitory concentrations. It was found that cefazolin was present in the sera and prostatic tissues in levels greater than was cephalexin and that cefazolin frequently exceeded the minimum inhibitory concentrations necessary for sensitive organisms to be affected, whereas cephalexin did not. Therefore, it would appear that cefazolin would be preferable to cephalexin in treatment of acute bacterial prostatitis.