Concentration of dicloxacillin and benzylpenicillin in fracture haematoma

Prophylaxis with loading doses of dicloxacillin (3 patients) and benzylpenicillin (5 patients) has been used preoperatively for malleolar fractures treated in a standardized manner. Postoperatively, the same dose was given every 6 h for a total period of 48 h. The concentration of antibiotics was measured in serum before and after operation and 6 h after the first infusion. Samples from the haematoma were taken during operation and from the drainage collected during 24 h. Satisfactory concentrations were found in serum pre- and postoperatively and in the haematoma.