Studies on lamoxactam penetration into the aqueous humor of the human eye

Eighteen patients scheduled for surgical lens removal were assigned to six groups of three patients each. These patients received 25 mg/kg lamoxactam i. v. 30 to 180 min prior to surgery. In the course of the operation, aqueous humor was obtained and a serum sample taken to determine the antibiotic concentration. The mean peak serum level was 154.5 mg/l after 30 min; it was still 46.4 mg/l after 3 h. The lamoxactam concentrations in the aqueous humor increased slowly. Peak levels after 2 h were 4.2 mg/l. The ratio of aqueous humor level: serum level after 1 h was 4.7%, after 1.5 h 5.3% and after 2 h 6.9%. The ratio then remained constant up to the third hour. Aside from some gram-positive bacterial species and Pseudomonas species, all relevant microorganisms which cause eye infections are included in lamoxactam's spectrum of susceptibility.