Cefonicid concentration in lung tissue after intramuscular administration.

A long-acting cephalosporin, cefonicid, was given as a single 1 g dose to sixteen patients hospitalized for lung carcinoma and undergoing thoracic surgery. Lung and serum specimens were obtained approximately 2, 4, 6 and 12 h after injection. Antibiotic assay was made by means of a microbiological method. Effective concentrations of cefonicid in the serum and lung tissue were achieved during the sampling time (12 h). The data suggest that a single dose of cefonicid may be useful for antibiotic prophylaxis in thoracic surgery.