PHARMACOKINETICS OF ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS IN THE RESPIRATORY-TRACT

The ability of antibiotics to penetrate into the respiratory tract has been investigated at several sites, namely, sputum and bronchial secr etions, tissue homogenates, pleural fluid and, more recently, epitheli al lining fluid and alveolar macrophages. The major reason for such in vestigations is that these data may be helpful to a more thorough unde rstanding of drug distribution in the lung tissue and fluids and to a more accurate prediction of clinical outcome. However, the study of dr ug concentration at each of these sites presents problems in terms of methodology and data interpretation. The advantages and disadvantages of each of these methods are considered, and the data on penetration o f betalactams, aminoglycosides, macrolides, fluoroquinolones and other antimicrobial agents (including antifungal and antiprotozoan drugs) a re reviewed.