Jcd. Png et al., A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF OFLOXACIN AND CIPROFLOXACIN IN PROSTATIC TISSUES AFTER SIMULTANEOUS ORAL INGESTION, British Journal of Urology, 79(5), 1997, pp. 781-784
Objectives To determine the levels of two quinolones, ofloxacin and ci
profloxacin, potent broad-spectrum antibiotics with very good oral bio
availability and low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for most
pathogens, in the prostates of patients who underwent transurethral r
esection of the prostate (TURF) after oral ingestion for surgical prop
hylaxis. Patients and methods Twenty-eight patients with BPH requiring
a TURF ingested 250 mg of bath drugs 2-4 h before operation. The leve
ls of the drugs in the serum and prostate were measured using highperf
ormance liquid chromatography and the levels of both drugs determined
at the 6 and 9 o'clock positions in the prostate to examine any local
Variations in drug concentration. Results Ofloxacin concentrations wer
e significantly higher in the serum and prostatic tissues compared wit
h ciprofloxacin for the same dose, but its penetrance into the prostat
e was lower. This mainly reflected its higher oral bioavailability. Bo
th drugs were present in concentrations 50% higher at the 6 o'clock th
an at the 9 o'clock position but both exceeded the MICs for most Gram-
negative organisms except Pseudomonas. Conclusion Ofloxacin has the ad
vantage against ciprofloxacin of exceeding the MICs for Staphylococcus
and Chlamydia. However, ciprofloxacin has the advantage of having pro
state-to-serum ratios of unity, but for the same dose the prostatic co
ncentrations of ofloxacin is significantly higher.