Skip to main content
Log in

Comparison of skin blisters and implanted cotton threads for the evaluation of antibiotic tissue concentrations

  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Microbiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The skin blister technique and a new technique using subcutaneously implanted cotton threads for the evaluation of antibiotic tissue concentrations were compared. Six volunteers received 2 g ampicillin and, after at least one week, 1 g of cloxacillin intravenously. Samples of serum, blister fluid and thread fluid were analysed by an agar well diffusion technique. The half-life of ampicillin and cloxacillin was prolonged in blister fluid compared to serum and thread fluid. Our conclusions are that the thread technique might reflect the kinetics of antibiotics in extracellular fluid where the penetration mostly depends on serum protein binding of the drug. The blister technique on the other hand might resemble the conditions in different subcutaneously implanted cages, fibrin clots and even abscesses where factors such as time and volume of the extracellular compartments also strongly influence the distribution of antibiotics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Barza, M., Weinstein, L.: Penetration of antibiotics into fibrin loci in vivo. I. Comparison of penetration of ampicillin into fibrin clots, abscesses and interstitial fluid. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1974, 129: 59–65.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Chisholm, G. D., Waterworth, P. M., Calnan, J. S., Garrod, L. P.: Concentration of antibacterial agents in interstitial tissue fluid. British Medical Journal 1973, i: 569–573.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Laber, G., Schütze, R., Leskova, R., Kolb, R., Georgopoulos, A.: A diffusion chamber technique for measuring concentrations of antibiotics in interstitial fluid. Infection 1980, 8: 58–62.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Tan, J. S., Trott, A., Phair, J. P., Watanakunakorn, C.: A method for measurement of antibiotics in human interstitial fluid. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1972, 126: 492–497.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Simon, C., Malerczyk, V., Kalus, M.: Absorption of bacampicillin and ampicillin and penetration into body fluids (skin blister fluid, saliva, tears) in healthy volunteers. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 1978, Suppl. 14: 228–232.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Schreiner, A., Helium, K. B., Digranes, A., Bergmann, I.: Transfer of penicillin G and amplicillin into human skin blisters induced by suction. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 1978, Suppl. 14: 233–237.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Hoffstedt, B., Walder, M.: Penetration of ampicillin, doxycycline and gentamicin into interstitial fluid in rabbits and of penicillin V and pivampicillin in humans measured with subcutaneously implanted cotton threads. Infection 1981, 9: 7–11.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ryan, D. M.: Implanted cotton threads; a novel method for measuring concentrations of antibiotics in tissue fluid. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 1979, 5: 735–737.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Forsgren, A., Banck, G., Beckman, H., Bellahsene, A.: Antibiotichost defence interactions in vitro and in vivo. Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases 1979, Suppl. 24: 195–203.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Thorell, J. I., Larsson, I.: Lactoperoxidase coupled to polyacrylamide for radio-iodination of proteins to high specific activity. Immunochemistry 1974, 11: 203–206.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Ryan, D. M., Mason, U.: Antibiotic tissue levels: are tissue cages relevant for their measurement? Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 1979, 5: 116–117.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Wise, R., Gillet, A. P., Cagde, B., Durham, S. R., Baker, S.: The influence of protein binding upon tissue fluid levels of sixβ-lactam antibiotics. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1980, 142: 77–82.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hoffstedt, B., Walder, M. & Forsgren, A. Comparison of skin blisters and implanted cotton threads for the evaluation of antibiotic tissue concentrations. Eur. J, Clin. Microbiol. 1, 33–37 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02014138

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02014138

Keywords

Navigation