title: Pharmacokinetics of Linezolid and Ertapenem in experimental parapneumonic pleural effusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the extent of linezolid and ertapenem penetration into the empyemic fluid using a rabbit model of empyema.
  
  
  METHODS
  An empyema was created via the intrapleural injection of Escherichia coli bacteria (ATCC 35218) into the pleural space of New Zealand white rabbits. After an empyema was verified by thoracocentesis, 24 hours post inoculation, linezolid (10 mg/kg) and ertapenem (60 mg/kg) were administered intravenously into 10 and 8 infected empyemic rabbits, respectively. Antibiotic levels were determined in samples of pleural fluid and blood serum, collected serially at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours, after administration each of the two antibiotics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Linezolid as well as ertapenem penetrate well into the empyemic pleural fluid, exhibiting a slower onset and decline compared to the corresponding blood serum levels. Equilibration between blood serum and pleural fluid compartments seems to occur at 1.5 hours for both linezolid and ertapenem, with peak pleural fluid levels (Cmaxpf of 2.02 +/- 0.73 <<mu>>g/ml and Cmaxpf of 3.74 +/- 1.39 <<mu>>g/ml, correspondingly) occurring 2 hours post antibiotics administration and decreasing very slowly thereafter. The serum concentrations for both antibiotics were significantly lower from the corresponding pleural fluid ones during the 8 hours collecting data, with the exception of samples collected at the 1st hour (Cmaxserum of 2.1 +/- 1.2 <<mu>>g/ml for linezolid and Cmaxserum of 6.26 +/- 2.98 <<mu>>g/ml for ertapenem).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pleural fluid levels of both antibiotics are inhibitory for common specified pathogens causing empyema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumonology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. bouros@med.duth.gr.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saroglou
authors.forename: Stavros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tryfon
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ismailos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Liapakis
authors.forename: Manolis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tzatzarakis
authors.forename: Aristidis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsatsakis
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papalois
authors.forename: Demosthenes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bouros