[Concentrations of cefmenoxime and cefotiam in the bile and gallbladder tissue following intravenous administration in patients with biliary tract diseases].

To test the effectiveness of cefmenoxime (CMX) and cefotiam (CTM) in patients with biliary tract diseases, concentrations of either antibiotic were measured after an intravenous bolus injection of 1.0 g of CMX or CTM, or simultaneous injection of both (1.0 g each). CMX or CTM was injected in 76 patients with biliary tract diseases (mostly cholelithiasis) prior to a cholecystectomy and concentrations of CMX or CTM were measured by the bioassay (agar well) method at 30 to 60 minutes after the injection. Average concentrations of both CMX and CTM in gallbladder bile and gallbladder tissue sufficiently exceeded the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against main causative organisms of biliary tract infections. Concentrations of both antibiotics in gallbladder bile were significantly higher in patients with patent cystic ducts than with obstructed cystic ducts. Concentrations of both antibiotics in the gallbladder tissue reached at a similar high level regardless of the patency of the cystic ducts, but concentrations were lower in severely inflamed gallbladders. CMX and CTM were administered alternatively (cross-over fashion), or simultaneously (combined) to 13 patients with T-tube drainage or percutaneous transhepatic cholangio-drainage, and concentrations of both antibiotics in bile from the drainage tube were measured by high performance liquid chromatography at hourly intervals after the injection. Concentrations of both antibiotics were far greater than MICs against main attributable microorganisms in biliary tract infections. The concentration of CMX slightly exceeded that of CTM. Concentrations of both antibiotics were lower in bile of patients showing abnormally high serum GTP, A1-P, and total bilirubin levels than in bile of patients with normal values of these variables. It is speculated that the secretion of both antibiotics in the bile may decrease in cases with severe hepatic failure, but effective concentrations of both antibiotics in the gallbladder tissue should be maintained as long as the blood circulation in the gallbladder was maintained.