Penicillin Concentration in Middle Ear Secretion in Otitis

Abstract

The author has examined the penicillin concentration in otitis and the relationship between penicillin concentration in serum and ear secretion. The series consists of 273 middle ear samples; 206 of these were acute cases, 22 catarrhal, and 45 chronic. Serum samples totalled 142. The results are presented by tables which show the following: In acute otitis, penicillin can be noted in the middle ear secretion as early as half an hour after parenteral administration of the drug. The penicillin concentration is highest 1 hour after administration. Penicillin disappears more slowly from the ear than from serum. In catarrhal otitis, penicillin appears very little in the ear secretion despite high serum concentrations. In chronic otitis, somewhat higher penicillin concentrations were noted than in the catarrhal inflammation. Compared with acute otitis, the concentrations were, however, low.