Iontophoresis of amoxicillin and cefuroxime: rapid therapeutic concentrations in skin.
BACKGROUND
Amoxicillin (AMX) and cefuroxime (CFX) are antibiotics used often to treat skin bacterial infections. Typically, high oral doses are required to achieve minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at the site of infection that may affect only a very small area of skin.


OBJECTIVE
To lower side effects and increase therapeutic effectiveness, the percutaneous absorption and retention of AMX and CFX administered by iontophoresis was investigated in a rabbit model by measuring dermis concentrations via microdialysis.


METHODS
Iontophoresis was performed using a stainless steel electrode and a non-woven polypropylene pad. The cartridge pad was soaked with a solution of AMX in glycerin or of CFX in glycerin/water (60:40). Constant current density of 0, 100, 200 or 300 µA/cm(2) was applied for 60 min.


RESULTS
For AMX, therapeutically effective skin concentrations were detected immediately after the application of electrical current for any of the current density tested and remained above it for at least 2 h from the end of iontophoresis. For CFX, skin concentrations rose above MIC only at the higher current densities and fell below the MIC by the end of the experiment.


CONCLUSIONS
Iontophoresis is a promising method to obtain a fast and sustained concentration of AMX and CFX in skin.
Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Arnold and Marie Schwartz College of Pharmacy, Long Island University , Brooklyn, NY , USA.
Vamshi
V
Mannem
Charan
C
Nanjarapalle
Grazia
G
Stagni
D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002444:Cefuroxime / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D007478:Iontophoresis / Q000379:methods*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017551:Microdialysis / Q000379:methods; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D012869:Skin Absorption
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000658:Amoxicillin; D002444:Cefuroxime