[Fundamental and clinical studies on aztreonam]

Aztreonam (AZT), a new monocyclic beta-lactam antibiotic, was studied on the transfer into intrapelvic tissues and on the clinical efficacy in the treatment of 19 cases of obstetrical and gynecological infections. The AZT levels were examined in the pelvic dead space exudate in 6 patients who received radical hysterectomy due to uterocervical cancer. The simulation curves for AZT were well performed after the decision of the pharmacokinetic parameters using the two-compartment model. Following 1-hour intravenous drip infusion of 1 g of AZT, the peak concentration of AZT in cubital venous blood was estimated 73.3 micrograms/ml at the end of infusion. The peak concentration of AZT in the pelvic dead exudate was estimated 18.6 micrograms/ml at 2.31 hours after infusion. Following intravenous 1-hour drip infusion of 1 g, the transferred level of AZT into uterine tissues was maintained at the effective concentration which means the excess level of the MIC against clinical isolates often observed in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. AZT was administered 2-4 g/day in 2 times a day by intravenous drip infusion for 60-90 minutes. The subjects were 19 patients with the following infections; pyometra (1), puerperal intrauterine infection (4), postoperative parametritis (4), pelvioperitonitis (2), purulent lymphocyst (1), acute salpingoophoritis (1), vaginal stump abscess (1), Douglas abscess (2), pelvioperitonitis + pyosalpinx (2), vulval abscess (1). Clinical efficacy was; excellent in 2 cases, good in 11 cases and poor in 6 cases. No notable side effect or abnormal laboratory finding was noted.