Rectal Administration of Metronidazole Provides Therapeutic Plasma Levels in Postoperative Patients

Abstract

METRONIDAZOLE has been widely used for prophylaxis and therapy of anaerobic infections in abdominal and gynecologic surgery.^{1 2 3 4} Although clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of suppository formulations of metronidazole,^{5 6 7 8} there have been no reports on rectal absorption of this drug and steady-state concentrations in the plasma of post-operative patients, particularly those with altered bowel motility or sepsis within the abdominal or pelvic cavity. Expensive intravenous preparations of metronidazole are therefore widely used. We show that rectal administration provides adequate therapeutic plasma levels after surgery.MethodsPatients were included in the study only with their informed consent, together with that of . . .