[Diffusion of ofloxacin in human lung tissue]

Ofloxacin was administered to 17 patients suffering from a pulmonary disorder necessitating surgery. The daily dosage employed was 200 mg b.i.d. during the 48 hours preceding the operation and 200 mg one hour before the operation. During surgery, blood samples and specimens of healthy and diseased lung tissue were taken simultaneously. The ofloxacin levels were determined by HPLC. The mean values of the tissue concentration/plasma concentration ratio were as follows: 3.5 +/- 0.4 for the healthy tissue and 3.9 +/- 0.4 for the diseased tissue. These values reflected good penetration of ofloxacin into both the healthy and atelectatic pulmonary parenchyma.