Effect of pancreatitis on ampicillin excretion in pancreatic fluids of dogs.

Pancreatic excretion of ampicillin was evaluated in normal dogs and in dogs with induced pancreatis. A 100-mg/kg ampicillin dose administered intravenously induced mean peak serum levels of 100 micrograms/ml, and a 200-mg/kg intravenous dose induced a mean peak serum level of 273 microgram/ml. Ampicillin serum levels did not differ between the group of normal dogs and those with pancreatitis. In normal dogs, the peak pancreatic fluid ampicillin concentration after the 100-mg/kg dose was 0.4 microgram/ml, and that after the 200-mg/kg dose was 2.7 micrograms/ml. In dogs with pancreatitis, the mean peak ampicillin concentration in the pancreatic fluid after the 100 mg/kg dose was 19 micrograms/ml, and that after the 200-mg/kg dose was 38.5 micrograms/ml. Pancreatic fluid ampicillin concentrations were therapeutic in dogs with pancreatitis and subtherapeutic in normal dogs.