Clinical pharmacology of amikacin sulphate: blood, urinary and tissue concentrations in the terminal stage of pregnancy.

Within a broad programme of research into the pharmacokinetics of various antimicrobials in gynaeco-obstetric patients, with a view of determining its concentrations in the different compartments and reproductive organs, we administered 7-5 mg/kg of amikacin sulphate to eleven women in the terminal stage of pregnancy one hour before collecting the specimens studies. The concentrations in the maternal blood and urine was similar to that obtained during the first weeks of gestation, and to that achieved outside pregnancy. The low determinations observed at the level of the foetal blood and urine and the anniotic fluid, as well as in the placenta and oviducts, is in our view due to the fact that the passage of this drug into the 'compartments' mentioned takes place slowly; this hypothesis is, however, subject to corroboration or refutation by further studies on this question. The concentration of this compound found was, nonetheless, bactericidal in all the parameters studied.

Efficacy of amikacin in septic abortion: serum and urine antibiotic concentrations.

Septic abortion is a frequent cause of maternal death in our patient population. The great majority of bacteria isolated were enterobacteria. Since antibiotics capable of destroying the cell wall release endotoxins (reducing vasoconstriction and tissue hypoxia) antibiotics which do not destroy bacteria like amikacin are preferred. Amikacin, 500 mg intramuscularly every twelve hours, was used concomitantly with uterine curettage and fluid and electrolyte restoration in thirty septic abortion patients. All the patients responded, obviating the need for more heroic surgical treatment such as hysterectomy. Previously used antibiotics have not been as effective in our patient population.