Penetration of ceftazidime into human tissue in patients undergoing cardiac surgery

The penetration of ceftazidime into human heart muscle, skeletal muscle, skin, fat and bone was measured in 39 patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Mean serum levels of 70 mg/l were measured 1.5 h after dosing with mean levels of 27 mg/l after 4 h and 5.5 mg/l after 12 h. Tissue levels of ceftazidime were measured up to 280 min after dosing. These levels were high with mean corrected levels after 120 min of 20.0 mg/l in bone, 7.1 mg/l in skin (after 100 min), 9.2 mg/l in fat, 12.7 mg/l in heart muscle and 9.4 mg/l in skeletal muscle. Serum and tissue levels were sufficient to prevent infection by all likely pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, 98% of which have a ceftazidime minimum inhibitory concentration of 8 mg/l or less. There were no post-surgical infections.