Concentration of thiamphenicol in the human prostate and testis

The concentration of thiamphenicol in prostatic tissue, testicular tissue and serum after a single intravenous injection of 1 g thiamphenicol glycinate ester was investigated. The prostatic and testicular specimens were obtained by prostatectomy and plastic orchidectomy, respectively, from patients with adenomas and carcinomas of the prostate. 2 h after dosing, the prostatic tissue concentration ranged from 2.1 to 15.1 microgram/g (mean value 5.7 microgram/g) and the testicular tissue from 3.4 to 8.4 microgram/g (mean value 6.1 microgram/g). At the same time the thiamphenicol serum levels varied in the patients with prostate adenomas from 4.6 to 14.5 microgram/ml (mean 8.9 microgram/ml) and in the prostate carcinoma patients from 5.2 to 10.4 microgram/ml (mean 8.5 microgram/ml). Several factors influencing the diffusion of thiamphenicol into the prostate and testis are discussed. The levels of thiamphenicol in the prostate and testis suggest that the antibiotic may be valuable for the treatment of infections of the prostate and testis caused by gram-positive and gram-negative cocci, but is of questionable value for the treatment of infections caused by gram-negative bacilli.