Diffusion of ofloxacin into the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with bacterial meningitis.

Ofloxacin diffusion into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was evaluated in nine patients with bacterial meningitis. Patients were under treatment with i.v. amoxicillin (100 mg/kg/day), and during the first five days they were also given oral ofloxacin, 200 mg b.i.d. On days 2 and 5, blood and CSF samples were collected for assays by both HPLC and microbiological techniques. Samples were obtained 2 h (n = 2), 4 h (n = 1), 6 h (n = 2), 8 h (n = 2) and 12 h (n = 2) after the ofloxacin dose respectively. Concentration in CSF was 50 to 60% of that in serum and there was no significant difference between results with the two assay techniques.