Penetration of netilmicin into heart valves, subcutaneous and muscular tissue of patients undergoing heart surgery.

In 57 patients undergoing heart surgery concentrations of netilmicin in plasma, heart valves, muscle, and subcutaneous tissue were determined after a 5 min intravenous bolus injection of 1.5 mg/kg body weight. Within 8 h netilmicin serum concentration declined from 3 micrograms/ml to 1 microgram/ml. In heart valves the concentrations during heart surgery were high enough to inhibit most staphylococci, Klebisiella, Enterobacter and Escherichia coli strains. No different serum and tissue concentrations in patients with and without extracorporal circulation could be found.