Intraperitoneal penetration of cefotetan

Area of Science:

• Pharmacokinetics
• Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis

Background:

• Intraperitoneal antibiotic penetration is crucial for preventing surgical site infections.
• Understanding cefotetan's distribution in peritoneal fluid informs optimal prophylactic dosing strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the intraperitoneal penetration and concentration of cefotetan following intravenous administration.
• To determine the duration of effective intraperitoneal cefotetan levels in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery.

Main Methods:

• Intravenous administration of 1-g cefotetan to 25 patients undergoing elective gastrointestinal surgery.
• Measurement of cefotetan concentrations in peritoneal fluid and serum at various time points post-injection.

Main Results:

• High peritoneal fluid levels of cefotetan were observed within 10 minutes of administration.
• Peritoneal fluid concentrations reached 44% of serum levels at 30 minutes and 115% at 3 hours.
• Mean cefotetan concentration in peritoneal fluid between 3 and 5 hours was 32.3 µg/mL.

Conclusions:

• A 1-g intravenous dose of cefotetan provides significant intraperitoneal concentrations.
• These levels are sustained for at least 5 hours, offering potential protection against susceptible pathogens during abdominal surgery.