[Intraocular penetration of pefloxacin in man and rabbit. The aqueous humor and vitreous body]

Abstract

Intraocular distribution of pefloxacin was evaluated in 64 patients undergoing ocular surgery and in 4 rabbits after experimental infection of one eye by Staphylococcus aureus. Patients were perfused during one hour either with 800 or 400 mg of pefloxacin. Samples (serum, aqueous humor, vitreous fluid) were collected 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 12 h after the end of antibiotic administration. Antibiotic levels were measured using a standard microbiological assay. The aqueous humor levels remained stables until 12 h, but were higher with a posology of 800 mg (mean level: 2.66 mg/l) than with a posology of 400 mg (mean level: 0.66 mg/l). The ratio between vitreous and serum concentrations ranged from 8 at 12% with 400 mg and from 2 to 36% with perfusion of 800 mg. The efficacy of pefloxacin treatment is demonstrated in the experimental infection of rabbits eyes.