[Antibiotic concentrations after intravenous and retrograde intravenous injections]

In patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease, it is difficult to attain an adequate antibiotic concentration in poorly perfused infected lesions. The antibiotic concentrations prevailing in the ulcer secretion with the different routes of administration were investigated in 7 patients. The patients received 1 g of cefotaxim on consecutive days: intravenously on the first day, intraarterially on the second day and by retrograde venous injection on the third day. Significantly higher concentrations in the secretion were found after retrograde venous antibiotic administration than after intravenous or intraarterial injection. Clinical experience up to now indicates that far better results of treatment can be attained if the antibiotic is administered by retrograde venous injection (in addition to the surgical measures required).