title: Comparison of two infusion methods for pharmacokinetic monitoring of gentamicin.
abstract: Gentamicin is commonly administered by intermittent infusions using a gravity-flow or a mechanical device. The primary objective of our study was to compare the pharmacokinetic data in patients receiving gentamicin infusion by a syringe pump and a new controlled-release membrane infusion device. The membrane device consists of a drug and a fluid chamber separated by a 0.2-micron proprietary membrane; drug transfer is based on electrodiffusion across the membrane. Ten patients (mean age 50 years) received the same dose of gentamicin, separated by a 24-h interval, from two devices. Differences in serum concentrations, distribution volume, and half-life were not statistically significant. However, time for complete delivery (0.9 +/- 0.4 h for membrane device vs. 0.5 h for syringe pump) and calculated dosage requirements (10.9 +/- 6.3 vs. 9.6 +/- 5.5 mg/h) to achieve peak of 7 and trough of 1 microgram/ml were significantly different (p less than 0.05). Thus, the infusion method for gentamicin can have a significant influence on its pharmacokinetic monitoring.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nahata
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Crist
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D013594:Syringes
chemical_list: D005839:Gentamicins