CONCENTRATION OF FLUCLOXACILLIN IN FEMORAL-HEAD AND JOINT CAPSULE IN TOTAL HIP-REPLACEMENT

A prophylactic injection of flucloxacillin was given with the premedication to forty patients undergoing total hip replacement. Samples of serum, synovium and capsule and, when obtainable, synovial fluid were assayed for flucloxacillin concentrations. The times after injection at which the samples were obtained were noted. The results suggest that the in vitro minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of flucloxacillin against staphylococci, streptococci and clostridia are not exceeded in all patients. These findings are discussed in relationship to the clinical results from a prospective study using flucloxacillin as a prophylactic in total hip replacement compared with data from similar studies in which cephaloridine is used prophylactically. The importance of comparative clinical studies is emphasised. © 1979, by The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.