Multiple-dose pharmacokinetics in serum and sputum of sagamicin administered intramuscularly to patients

Sagamicin is an aminoglycosidic antibiotic produced by Micromonospora sagamiensis, chemically related with gentamicin. Single- and multiple-dose pharmacokinetics have been investigated in patients affected by bronchopulmonary infections treated with 60 mg sagamicin i.m. every 12 h. The two concentration-time curves for sputum and serum are parallel; while there is no evidence of accumulation in the serum at the 7th day of treatment, sagamicin concentrations in the sputum are significantly higher on the 7th day, and this is also confirmed by a remarkable difference between the two AUC values. The good penetration power of sagamicin into sputum makes this antibiotic useful for the treatment of infections of the respiratory tract.