Penetration of cefuroxime and ceftazidime into human lungs.

We have studied the penetration of cefuroxime and ceftazidime into lung tissue of 40 patients subjected to pulmonary surgery. Samples of blood and lung tissue were taken 1 and 2 h after antibiotic administration. Patients were randomly assigned to four dosage schedule groups: group A received a single intravenous injection of 750 mg cefuroxime; the lung tissue levels at 1 and 2 h were 9.6 +/- 3.1 and 4.54 +/- 2.64 micrograms/g of cefuroxime; the percentage penetration from serum into the lung tissue was 33.7 and 34.6%, respectively. Group B patients received three doses of 750 mg cefuroxime; lung tissue levels were 17.1 +/- 7.7 and 14.7 +/- 5.4 micrograms/g, the percentage of penetration being 89.1 and 102.8% at 1 and 2 h. Group C received a single intravenous injection of 1 g ceftazidime; the lung tissue levels were 16.3 +/- 10.1 and 10 +/- 5.04 micrograms/g; the percentage of penetration from serum was 38.3 and 35.3%. Group D received three doses of 1 g ceftazidime; the lung tissue concentrations were 11.98 +/- 7.5 and 8.5 +/- 7.3 micrograms/g and the percentage of penetration 35.1 and 32.2% at 1 and 2 h after last dose.