The penetration of fleroxacin into bronchial mucosa

Twenty patients undergoing fibreoptic endoscopy received 400 mg of fleroxacin once a day for four days. Bronchial biopsies were performed 2.7-5.9 h following the final dose of fleroxacin. A microbiological assay was used to determine the levels of fleroxacin in serum and biopsy material. The serum levels of fleroxacin ranged from 3.9-12.5 mg/l (mean 8.4, S.D. 2.4). In all but one patient the bronchial mucosa level exceeded that in serum, the range being 5.9-19 mg/l (mean 12.8, S.D. 3.3). The mean percentage penetration into bronchial mucosa over the period of the study was 158% (S.D. 41.2%). The therapeutic implications are discussed.