Administration of ticarcillin in combination with clavulanic acid intravenously and intrauterinely to clinically normal oestrous mares.

This research explores the administration of a drug combination (ticarcillin and clavulanic acid) in mares and evaluates its absorption into plasma and persistence in tissue after different routes of administration.

Overview of the Study

• The study involved administering medicines, namely ticarcillin and clavulanic acid, intravenously and intrauterine to healthy mares in oestrus.
• The medication quantities given intravenously were 50 and 1.67 mg/kg of ticarcillin and clavulanate respectively, while intrauterine administration involved 12.4 and 0.4 mg/kg of ticarcillin and clavulanate respectively.
• The intrauterine dosage of the drugs was delivered with 100 mL of saline solution.

Method and Analysis

• After the administration of the drugs, the researchers conducted endometrial tissue biopsies and plasma sampling to establish levels of ticarcillin and clavulanate.
• The proportions of the drugs were determined by deploying high-pressure liquid chromatography and pharmacokinetic calculations.

Findings and Conclusions

• The study revealed that both of the drugs, when administered intrauterine, were poorly absorbed into the blood plasma.
• Ticarcillin exhibited a short half-life in both tissue and plasma post intravenous administration.
• Even though tissue levels were higher after intrauterine administration than intravenous administration, ticarcillin concentrations fell rapidly, indicating frequent dosage would be necessary to maintain efficacy.
• Clavulanate concentrations in the tissue were low and only persisted for a short time post administration through either route. Thus, the value of adding clavulanate to the treatment for intrauterine infections in mares may be questionable based on these findings.