FIG. 5.
Impact of number of cells lysed during the processing of BAL specimens on the measurement of ELF concentrations of azithromycin, clarithromycin, telithromycin, and cethromycin. AUCelf/(AUCfs·K) (or Celf/[Cfs·K]) ratios are plotted against the volume percentage of lysed cells in ELF. Constant K reflects the capacity of antibiotics for penetration through alveolar epithelial cells (see text). Multiple lines of the same antibiotic are drawn based on different data sets. In general, the AUCelf/(AUCfs·K) (or Celf/[Cfs·K]) ratios for these antibiotics drop rapidly with lysis of cells.