Influence of ambroxol on amoxicillin levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

Amoxicillin levels were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples obtained from patients who after randomization were treated in double-blind fashion either with amoxicillin 1000 mg p.o.t.i.d. or with amoxicillin 1000 mg + ambroxol 60 mg p.o.t.i.d. Antibiotic levels were higher in the group receiving ambroxol (0.32 +/- 0.02 micrograms/ml; n = 8) than in the other one (0.19 +/- 0.02 micrograms/ml; n = 6). This difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.001). Comparisons of protein concentrations in BAL fluid samples and of amoxicillin plasma levels did not show significant differences in the two groups. These results seem to prove that ambroxol is able to increase the antibiotics concentration in the lungs, although the mechanism of action is still unclear. In addition it could be shown that the BAL technique is suitable for exploring the lung concentration of antibiotics.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes