Occupational exposure to veterinary antibiotics: Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin in humans after dermal, inhalation and oral uptake-A clinical study

Occupational exposure to veterinary antibiotics in hen houses at poultry feeding farms was demonstrated by biomonitoring campaigns in the past. The objective of this study was to investigate pharmacokinetics of three uptake routes: dermal, oral and inhaled. In an open-label cross-over study, six healthy volunteers were exposed to single occupational relevant doses of enrofloxacin. Plasma and urine samples were analysed for enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modelling based on bioanalysis data showed underestimation for the elimination rate in comparison to experimental data pointing towards a lack of sufficient ADME information and limitations of available physico-chemical properties of the parent drug. The data obtained in this study indicate that oral uptake with its various sources, e.g. airborne enrofloxacin, direct handmouth contact, is the major source for occupational exposure to enrofloxacin in hen houses. Dermal exposure was considered negligible.

Automated summary

Occupational exposure to veterinary antibiotics in hen houses at poultry feeding farms, particularly enrofloxacin, was investigated in this study. The pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin were studied in six healthy volunteers using dermal, oral, and inhaled intake routes. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling was used but showed underestimation of elimination rate, indicating limitations in available information and physico-chemical properties of the drug. The results suggested that oral uptake, including airborne enrofloxacin and direct hand-mouth contact, was the major source of occupational exposure in hen houses, while dermal exposure was considered negligible.