PHARMACOKINETICS OF GENTAMICIN ADMINISTERED INTRATRACHEALLY OR AS AN INHALATION AEROSOL TO GUINEA-PIGS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 12  (5) , 641-644
Abstract
The pharmacokinetics of gentamicin [an aminoglycoside antibiotic] were studied after intratracheal, inhalation and i.v. administration to guinea pigs. Gentamicin injected intratracheally was almost completely systemically available. The comparison of the gentamicin plasma AUC [area under the concentration-time curve] after inhalation and i.v. administration showed that an inhalation exposure lasting 10 min resulted in an absorption of 1.13 mg gentamicin/kg body wt into systemic circulation. This absorbed dose was 40.4 or 67.3% of the amount of gentamicin inhaled, depending on tidal volume assumed, and 1.4% of the amount of gentamicin aerosolized. The postinhalation gentamicin concentration in the lungs decreased with a half-life of 67.3 min. The data differentiated topical pulmonary gentamicin from systemic gentamicin and gave a rational basis for study of the mechanism of the therapeutic effect of gentamicin inhalation aerosol in bronchopulmonary infections.