Doxycycline concentration levels in bone, soft tissue and serum after intravenous infusion of doxycycline. A clinical study.

As part of a longitudinal study, the influence of preoperative single dose doxycycline treatment on the overall incidence of early postoperative wound infections in orthopaedic surgery, 34 patients with various fractures were given an intravenous infusion of doxycycline 2-4 hours before the operation. The serum concentrations of doxycycline were determined on specimens taken during the operation and on 4 other occasions, the last being 48 hours after operation. All patients except 4 had serum concentration levels of 0.4 mug per ml or above at 48 hours. During the operation, specimens of skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscle and bone were also taken. The doxycycline concentrations were determined in the various tissues and correlated to the concomitant serum concentration. The results were analysed with regard to the possible influence of preoperative single dose doxycycline treatment for prevention of early postoperative infections.