Penetration of pefloxacin into human allograft pancreatic juice

The penetration of pefloxacin (400 mg) into pancreatic juice, following a single oral dose, was investigated in five patients subjected to pancreatic transplantation as treatment for insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The pancreatic juice was temporarily diverted to the exterior by means of a pancreatic duct catheter. Studies on pure human pancreatic juice were thus made possible. Simultaneous blood and pure pancreatic juice samples were collected at regular intervals for up to 24 h after drug intake. The antibiotic concentrations were determined by bioassay. The average concentration of pefloxacin in pancreatic juice was 100% of that in serum. The mean peak concentration in pancreatic juice was 4.6 +/- 0.9 mg/l (+/- S.E.) and occurred at 2.5 h after drug intake. The decrease in concentration with time was parallel to the serum concentration curve. The concentrations of pefloxacin in pancreatic juice exceeded the MICs of many bacteria associated with pancreatic infections for several hours after administration of a single oral dose.