Penetration of ciprofloxacin into gynecological tissues following oral and intravenous administration

Abstract

Penetration activities of ciprofloxacin into female genital tract tissues were studied following a single oral administration of 500 mg and an intravenous injection of 100 mg. Serum and tissue concentrations were within the same order of magnitude 1 and 3 h after oral administration; 3 h after intake of ciprofloxacin, however, tissue concentrations exceeded the corresponding serum levels twofold. Similarly, tissue concentrations following intravenous injection exceeded the corresponding serum levels by 60-190% 0.5 h after injection and were consistently higher throughout the study period of 2 h. These data confirm that ciprofloxacin disposition is characterized by a remarkably pronounced diffusion into the extravascular space, generating tissue levels exceeding the minimal inhibitory concentrations of most pathogens severalfold.