THE PENETRATION OF ORAL CIPROFLOXACIN INTO THE AQUEOUS-HUMOR, VITREOUS, AND SUBRETINAL FLUID OF HUMANS

We examined ciprofloxacin levels in the aqueous humor, vitreous, or su bretinal fluid in 40 patients undergoing cataract extraction, vitrecto my, or scleral buckling. Ciprofloxacin, 750 mg, was administered orall y an average of 17 1/2 and 5 1/2 hours preoperatively. We obtained mea n ciprofloxacin levels of 0.53 mug/ml in aqueous humor, 0.51 mug/ml in vitreous, and 0.71 mug/ml in subretinal fluid. These vitreous levels exceed the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)90 of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Propionibacterium species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteu s mirabilis, and Haemophilus influenzae, as well as the MIC70 of S. au reus and Bacillus cereus. Therefore, ciprofloxacin may have a role in the management and prevention of endophthalmitis.