[Concentrations of cefotiam and cefmenoxime in the human bone marrow blood and osseous tissue]

Prophylactic antimicrobial therapy for the prevention of infection during total joint arthroplasty or spinal surgery was investigated using cefotiam (CTM) and cefmenoxime (CMX), which are cephems having broad antimicrobial spectrum. Seven patients received 2 g of CTM, and 12 patients 2 g of CMX, by intravenous drip infusion over 15 minutes. Blood, bone marrow and osseous tissue samples were obtained at the end of the infusion, and 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after the beginning of the infusion. The concentrations of CTM and CMX were detected by the agar-well method. CTM and CMX were smoothly distributed from blood to bone marrow and osseous tissue, and kept on the effective concentrations for prophylaxis against postoperative infections. The primary wound healing was obtained in all cases, and no side effects were also recognized.