title: Intra-abdominal versus intramuscular application of two ampicillin preparations in cows.
abstract: Plasma ampicillin concentrations were determined in a cross-over trial involving five cows after single intramuscular or intra-abdominal administration of sodium ampicillin (10 mg/kg) and ampicillin anhydrate (40 mg/kg). After injection of sodium-ampicillin, high plasma concentrations were reached within 10 min; Cmax following intramuscular injection was 9.1 micrograms/ml and after intra-abdominal injection 7.5 micrograms/ml. Urine concentrations of ampicillin were low after 24 h (1-1.5 micrograms/ml). No significant changes in blood leucocyte numbers, plasma zinc, iron or fibrinogen levels occurred. After injection of ampicillin anhydrate 1 h elapsed before maximum plasma levels were obtained; Cmax was 5.4 micrograms/ml after intramuscular and 6.7 micrograms/ml after intra-abdominal administration. Urine concentrations were very high (238-303 micrograms/ml) after 24 h and stayed above 1 microgram/ml for 6 days. After administration of ampicillin anhydrate a significant increase in blood neutrophils (P less than 0.01) and a significant increase in plasma fibrinogen was measured after intramuscular and intra-abdominal injection (P less than 0.05). A significant decrease in plasma zinc concentration after intra-abdominal injection occurred (P less than 0.05). In abdominal surgery in cows in which contamination cannot be prevented, and practical objections inhibit preoperative administration, intramuscular or intra-abdominal administration during surgery of sodium ampicillin seems justified. Ampicillin anhydrate should not be used intra-abdominally.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Large Animal Surgery, State University Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Firth
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kievits
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: De Jager
mesh_terms: D000667:Ampicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D002417:Cattle / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000032:analysis; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008892:Milk / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000667:Ampicillin; D005340:Fibrinogen; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc