Impact of hyperlipidaemia on the orbital bone cefotaxime levels in rats

Facial injuries are critical conditions, leading to serious complications, such as occult facial infections. Infectious endophthalmitis occurs despite of antibiotics use during implantation of intraocular lenses and is generally resistant to antibiotic therapy. It is a crucial situation in ophthalmology, since it often induces a substantial reduction of visual acuity and in some cases the loss of the eye despite treatment. It is, therefore, important to obtain drug levels able to exert antimicrobial effect in the diseased organ. The distribution of a drug depends on the binding extent to both plasma proteins and tissues and only the free drug is capable to be transported/diffused across membranes from blood vessels into tissues, in order to achieve its effect on the target organ. Hyperlipidaemia and consequent enhanced concentration of free fatty acid can modify binding pharmacokinetics of antibiotics through antagonism for the same binding sites. Cefotaxime, the third generation cephalosporin with easy penetration in a variety of tissues and body fluids and low incidence of adverse effects, can obtain adequate concentration in blood, eye bulb, and in the orbital bones. Its levels are influenced by hyperlipidaemia with clinical impact.