[Clinical evaluation of latamoxef, an oxacephem antibiotic with special reference to transport of latamoxef into the lung tissues and prevention of postoperative infections after thoracotomy].

There are few clinical reports about concentration of latamoxef (LMOX) in lung tissues. At present, clinically, we report a concentration of LMOX in serum and lung tissues on 21 patients of chest disease and a study of the administration schedule of LMOX for prophylaxis of postoperative infections on 31 operated patients with chest disease. Our results are the followings: The peak concentration of LMOX in serum is 77.4 micrograms/ml at 1 hour after starting drip infusion of LMOX 1 g. The concentration of LMOX in lung tissues is from 25% to 50% of serum level. LMOX is more useful to prophylaxis of postoperative infections after thoracotomy than cephalothin, especially in case of administration of LMOX just before operation. No side effects of LMOX are noted in our cases. LMOX has wide antibacterial activity against various clinical isolates and is useful to treatment of postoperative infections.