BILIARY-EXCRETION OF CIPROFLOXACIN AND PIPERACILLIN IN THE OBSTRUCTEDBILIARY-TRACT

Biliary excretion of ciprofloxacin and piperacillin was determined in cholestatic patients who had undergone endoscopic cholangiography. The median concentration of ciprofloxacin (n = 9) was 2.36 mu g/ml (range , 0.29 to 19.8 mu g/ml) in bile compared with 1.66 mu g/ml (range, 0.7 3 to 2.69 mu g/ml) in serum, The median concentration of piperacillin (n = 7) was <5 mu g/ml (range, <5 to 26) in bile compared with 14.3 mu g/ml (range, 5.3 to 80) in serum, Ciprofloxacin, but not piperacillin , can be actively excreted into bile in the presence of a biliary trac t obstruction.