Pharmacokinetic studies of ceftazidime in serum, bone, bile, tissue fluid and peritoneal fluid

After a single iv bolus injection of 2 g ceftazidime, concentrations were measured in serum and urine in volunteers and in serum, bone, bile and tissue fluid in patients. The serum half-life was 171 min in volunteers (n=6, average age 26 years) and 221 min in patients (n=12, average age 58 years). The peripheral volumes of distribution were also different, being 7.81 in volunteers and 11.31 in patients. Urinary recovery from the volunteers averaged 92% of the dose. Bone samples free from blood and taken from the femoral head, the pelvis or the femoral shaft contained an average of 24.1 mg ceftazidime per litre of organic bone at 30 min after injection and 19.7 mg/l at 2 h. Samples of fluid from the periprosthetic space after hip replacement contained 25.6 mg/l at 2 h and were above 8 mg/l at 10 h. Bile concentrations reached 36.4 mg/l at 90 min and were above 8 mg/l for over 8 h. Peritoneal fluid samples contained 27.6 mg/l at 1 h and 8.0 mg/l at 8 h. These concentrations are considered sufficient to treat most aerobic infections associated with surgery.