title: Piperacillin pharmacokinetics in pediatric patients.
abstract: The pharmacokinetics of piperacillin were studied in 15 pediatric patients (age range, 3.3 to 14.3 years). Piperacillin was administered in a dosage of 1.5 +/- 0.4 g/m2 (mean +/- standard deviation) every 4 to 6 h. Peak serum concentrations ranged from 69 to 354 micrograms/ml. The mean elimination half-life was 37.0 +/- 13.3 min, which is shorter than that observed in most adults with normal renal function. The mean elimination half-life in three patients with renal impairment was 60.1 +/- 12.4 min, and the mean ratio of renal clearance to total clearance was 0.57. These results suggest a significant nonrenal elimination of piperacillin. Based on these data, a dosage of 1.5 g/m2 given as a 30-min infusion every 4 h is suggested for children with normal renal function. For patients with renal impairment, the daily dosage could be calculated as follows: corrected dose = normal dose x (0.35 + [0.65 x (ClCr/0.06)]), where ClCr is the creatinine clearance expressed as liters per minute per square meter.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006207:Half-Life; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D010878:Piperacillin
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D010878:Piperacillin