Ampicillin concentrations in human serum, gingiva, mandibular bone, dental follicle, and dental pulp following a single oral administration of bacampicillin.

Ninety-six patients who underwent the extraction of impacted mandibular third molars in a nonfasting state were given a single oral dose of bacampicillin preoperatively. Specimens of serum from venous blood (n = 107), gingiva (n = 57), mandibular bone (n = 68), dental follicle (n = 56), and dental pulp (n = 43) were obtained during the operation and assayed for ampicillin content. The mean peak concentrations in serum, gingiva, mandibular bone, dental follicle, and dental pulp all occurred approximately 90 minutes after administration. The concentration ratios of the tissues to the corresponding serum at the peak time were 0.50, 0.20, 0.34, and 0.61, respectively. Bacampicillin showed good absorption by the intestine, and sufficient concentrations of the resulting metabolite, ampicillin, were found in the oral tissues.