[The pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime in the burned patients]

Pharmacokinetic studies were carried out following systemic administration of ceftazidime in ten burn patients (TBSA 30%-60% and with full-thickness burn) and six healthy volunteers. Dynamic ceftazidime concentrations in blood, urine and blister fluid were analysed by HPLC. The results showed that the burned patients, especially during their shock phase, some pharmacokinetics parameters differed from that of normal volunteers, in that the volume of distribution (0.45 +/- 0.06 L/kg vs. 0.23 +/- 0.05 L/kg) and non-renal clearance of drug (30.54 +/- 21.97ml.min-1 vs. 11.08 +/- 4.91 ml.min-1) increased, but the elimination of half-life was prolonged. The result indicated that it was not necessary to increase the dosage of ceftazidime in extensive burns in the early period. Burn blister fluid concentrations were higher than MIC. Ranging from 1.004-21.62 micrograms/ml, indicating that systemic ceftazidime could penetrate second-degree burn tissue in the early postburn stage.