Penetration of ampicillin into human bronchial secretions

Ampicillin concentrations in serum and bronchial secretions after oral administration of bacampicillin were evaluated. Twenty-eight hospitalized patients with acute bronchopulmonary infections received a single dose of 800 mg of bacampicillin. Samples of bronchial secretions were obtained during diagnostic bronchoscopy and blood samples were drawn simultaneously. Significant concentrations of ampicillin were found in bronchial secretions, the peak level, reached after approximately two hours, being 0.27 micrograms/ml on an average. The penetration of ampicillin into the bronchial secretions after the administration of bacampicillin could be correlated with the degree of bronchial inflammation, as illustrated either by macroscopic purulence or protein concentration in the secretions. The results suggest that bacampicillin is a useful drug in acute bronchopulmonary infections.