[Ciprofloxacin: intraocular absorption in man]

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pharmacokinetics
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Endophthalmitis is a serious intraocular infection requiring effective antibiotic treatment.
• Achieving adequate intraocular antibiotic concentrations is crucial for therapeutic success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the intraocular penetration of Ciprofloxacin after oral administration in humans.
• To determine if Ciprofloxacin concentrations in the aqueous humor exceed the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for common bacterial pathogens.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 30 patients receiving a single 1000 mg oral dose of Ciprofloxacin.
• Aqueous humor samples were collected from 1.30 to 4 hours post-dose.
• Samples were analyzed using a microbiological assay to quantify Ciprofloxacin levels.

Main Results:

• Average Ciprofloxacin concentration in the aqueous humor was 0.73 mg/L, representing 33% of serum levels.
• Therapeutic concentrations were achieved within 1.30 to 4 hours after dosing.
• Achieved concentrations were above the MIC for many bacterial agents implicated in endophthalmitis.

Conclusions:

• Oral Ciprofloxacin demonstrates significant intraocular penetration into the anterior chamber.
• The achieved concentrations suggest potential efficacy in treating bacterial endophthalmitis.
• Further clinical trials are necessary to establish the safety and definitive efficacy of Ciprofloxacin for endophthalmitis treatment.