title: Penetration of oral cefuroxime axetil into the human aqueous humor.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the penetration into the aqueous humor of cefuroxime after a single oral dose as cefuroxime axetil. Fourteen patients scheduled for cataract extraction received a single oral dose of cefuroxime axetil corresponding to 500 mg of cefuroxime 2-8 h preoperatively. Aqueous humor samples were obtained at the beginning of the cataract surgery and blood samples were drawn at the time of anesthesia. Cefuroxime levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The aqueous levels were (mean +/- SEM) 0.48 +/- 0.13 microgram/ml from 3 to 8 h after administration. Serum levels averaged 3.80 +/- 0.58 micrograms/ml. These data indicate that detectable levels of cefuroxime, exceeding the MIC of some bacterial species that frequently cause intraocular infections, may be achieved in uninflamed eyes after a low dose of cefuroxime axetil.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, University of Genoa, Faculty of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghia
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lotti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Traverso
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mattioli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martelli
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins; D011355:Prodrugs; D002444:Cefuroxime; C040738:cefuroxime axetil