title: Pharmacokinetics of netilmicin in premature infants.
abstract: The pharmacokinetics of netilmicin were studied in 12 premature infants with proven or presumed sepsis during the first month of life. Eleven of 12 patients received netilmicin 2.5 mg/kg intravenously every 12 h while one 770-gram birth weight infant received 2.5 mg/kg every 18 h. Mean steady-state peak and trough concentrations were 8.9 micrograms/ml and 2.8 micrograms/ml, respectively. Of twelve patients, 11 had trough serum concentration above 2 micrograms/ml and four had trough serum concentrations above 3 micrograms/ml. Mean total body clearance of netilmicin was 0.84 ml/min/kg. The mean clearance of 0.72 ml/min/kg was substantially lower in patients with a mean postnatal age of 2.7 days than the clearance of 1.10 ml/min/kg in patients with a mean postnatal age of 23 days. The mean apparent volume of distribution was 0.63 l/kg; and the mean elimination halflife was 8.6 h. A three-fold interpatient variation in pharmacokinetic parameters was seen. These data suggest the need for careful monitoring of netilmicin serum concentration in premature infants.
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009428:Netilmicin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009428:Netilmicin