The penetration of erythromycin into the middle ear.
The penetration of erythromycin was studied in 108 cases of secretory otitis media. Erythromycin ethylsuccinate was given orally in a dosage of 30-60 mg/kg/day and samples of middle ear effusion were obtained at different intervals. The concentration of erythromycin in the middle ear effusions reached the plasma level (1.1-1.2 mg/l) after 26 hours. The plateau levels were maintained during the steady state. Elimination was slow; 14 hours after the last dose of a ten-day treatment, the concentration of erythromycin in the middle ear effusions was still as high as 0.9 mg/l, compared to 0.2 mg/l in plasma. The concentration of erythromycin in the middle ear effusions surpassed the MICs of most respiratory pathogens. Erythromycin can thus be regarded as a suitable drug in the treatment of otitis media. Furthermore, since the respiratory mucosa reacts in a uniform manner to an inflammatory stimulus, the result of this penetration study is valid for inflammatory diseases in any area lined with respiratory epithelium.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000378:metabolism*; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy*
D004917:Erythromycin