A study of the penetration of temocillin in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Temocillin concentrations in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 8 patients were assayed by high pressure liquid chromatography. It was possible to determine sequential series of ventricular (CSF) and serum concentrations in 4 adult neurosurgical patients with slight to moderate impairment of blood-CSF barriers, because serial CSF samples were obtained from external ventricular drains. In 4 other patients with meningitis, temocillin was given in addition to the regular treatment schedule and 6 'spot' concentrations of temocillin in lumbar CSF and serum samples were determined. Temocillin CSF concentrations in these subjects seemed to be inadequate for the treatment of Gram-positive bacterial meningitis and only partially valuable for the treatment of Gram-negative bacillary meningitis.