The penetration of antibiotics into the normal intervertebral disc

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Gibson-M-J. Karpinski-M-R. Slack-R-C. Cowlishaw-W-A. Webb-J-K. Spinal Research Unit, Harlow Wood Orthopaedic Hospital, Nottingham, J-Bone-Joint-Surg- [m[Br]. 1987 Nov. 69(5). P 784-6. The role of antibiotics in the treatment of disc-space infection [m is controversial. This study assessed the tissue penetration of flucloxacillin and cephradine into the normal intervertebral disc after intravenous administration of a bolus dose of antibiotic. Twenty-five discs were removed from 12 adolescent patients having anterior spinal surgery to correct scoliosis; antibiotic had been administered between 30 minutes and four hours before operation. Despite high blood levels, no antibiotic could be detected by bioassay or by high-pressure liquid chromatography (h.p.l.c.) in any of the specimens from the nucleus pulposus or the annulus fibrosus. Author-abstract.