Effect of surgical blood loss and volume replacement on antibiotic pharmacokinetics

Antibiotic prophylaxis is used widely to prevent postoperative infection associated with cardiac operations. The influence of perioperative blood loss on antibiotic pharmacokinetics has not been well studied. Plasma cefazolin sodium samples from 8 patients undergoing a cardiac operation were collected postoperatively and analyzed. The results suggest that blood loss has a minimal effect on the elimination of cefazolin and that therapeutic concentrations are maintained without altering the dosage regimen.