Amoxycillin absorption and penetration in pelvic inflammatory disease

Five patients with pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) had thin polyethylene catheters introduced percutaneously through the abdominal wall into the pouch of Douglas for sampling of peritoneal fluid. At hourly intervals specimens were aspirated, simultaneously with the sampling of finger tip capillary blood. In both the concentration of amoxycillin was determined by the micromethod of Jalling et al. (1972). One hour after the oral ingestion of 0.5 grams of amoxycillin, a therapeutic level was recorded in blood plasma, the peak level being achieved in 2 hours. The concentration of amoxycillin in the peritoneal fluid showed some delay, mainly in the cases with a thick purulent exsudate, but the peak levels were similar to those in blood plasma. After a single dose of 0.5 gram of amoxycillin, a therapeutic level was maintained in blood and in peritoneal fluid for 7-8 hours. The drug was well tolerated and showed an excellent clinical effect.