Ceftibuten concentrations in human tonsillar tissue.

In a study designed to determine ceftibuten concentrations in tonsillar tissue, subjects scheduled to undergo tonsillectomy were administered 400 mg of ceftibuten in a single oral dose. Between 2 and 24 h after the dose was given, tonsillar tissue samples were taken during surgery and assayed for ceftibuten. Mean concentrations in tonsillar tissue 4.4 h and 24.6 h after the 400 mg dose were 5.3 +/- 2.7 and 0.3 +/- mg/g, respectively. Concurrent mean serum concentrations were 7.42 +/- 1.66 and 0.15 +/- 0.13 mg/ml, respectively. The apparent half-life of drug in the tissue was 5.3 h. The presence of high ceftibuten concentrations in tonsillar tissue suggests that a once-daily regimen may be effective in treating tonsillitis and pharyngitis.