Concentrations of ampicillin and sulbactam in serum and tissues of patients undergoing ENT surgery.

2 g ampicillin and 1 g sulbactam were given by infusion to 24 patients who were to be operated on in the ENT region. About 1 hour later during the operation samples of serum and of various tissues were taken and analysed for ampicillin and sulbactam. The mean serum concentrations of ampicillin and sulbactam were 59.2 mg/l and 31.6 mg/l, respectively. At the same time the concentrations of the two drugs were usually lower in the tissues than in serum. About 1 hour after the infusion the mean tissue concentration of ampicillin was 33.5 mg/kg and of sulbactam 19.5 mg/kg. The results show that ampicillin and sulbactam penetrate within an hour into the different tissues affected by the operation and maintain about the same ratio as in serum (2:1). The concentrations of ampicillin and sulbactam measured in the different compartments are capable of inhibiting the bacteria most frequently involved in ENT infections. These measurements unequivocally support the use of the ampicillin/sulbactam combination in the treatment and perioperative prophylaxis of bacterial infections of the ENT tract.