Concentrations of antimicrobial agents in middle ear fluid, saliva and tears

John D. Nelson, Charles M. Ginsburg, Ora McLeland, Joan Clahsen, M. C. Culbertson, Henry Carder

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Antibiotic concentrations in middle ear fluid (MEF), saliva and tears were measured in children with persistent middle ear effusions undergoing tympanostomy tube placement. In 31 children given cefaclor, specimens of serum, saliva and MEF were collected at 0.5, 1, 2, 3 or 5 h after a dose. Another group of 37 children were randomized to receive a single dose of penicillin V, amoxicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin estolate, erythromycin ethyl-succinate, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or cefaclor. Concentrations of antibiotics in saliva and tears bore no consistent relationship to those in MEF. Mean concentrations of all drugs in MEF were several-fold greater than the usual minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of pneumococci, but only with trimethoprim and cefaclor were they greater than the usual MIC's for Haemophilus influenzae. Concentrations of antibiotics in MEF in persistent effusions were comparable to those previously reported in acute purulent effusions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)327-334
Number of pages8
JournalInternational Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology
Volume3
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1981

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Otorhinolaryngology

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