Serum concentrations of amoxycillin in children following an oral loading dose prior to general anaesthesia: relevance for the prophylaxis of infective endocarditis.

A Working Party of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy has recommended an oral regimen for adult patients at risk from infective endocarditis who require dental treatment under a general anaesthesia. The Working Party recommends oral amoxycillin 3 g 4 hours prior to general anaesthesia. This study shows that doses of amoxycillin previously recommended for the prophylaxis of infective endocarditis in children having treatment under local anaesthesia also result in adequate serum concentrations at the time of operation (14.34 mg/l +/- (1 S.D.) 8.64).