Continuous infusion ceftazidime in intensive care: a randomized controlled trial.
We randomized 18 critically ill patients to receive ceftazidime 6 g/day by continuous infusion or bolus dosing (2 g 8 hourly), each with a loading dose of 12 mg/kg ceftazidime. During the first 8 h, plasma ceftazidime concentration fell below 40 mg/L in only one patient (trough 38 mg/L) from the infusion group, compared with eight from the bolus group (2-33 mg/L) for periods ranging from 73 to 369 min. Thereafter all infusion patients remained above 40 mg/L for 40 h of study versus 20-30% of bolus patients. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics of ceftazidime suggest that continuous infusions should be clinically investigated in outcome studies.
Royal Brisbane Hospital, Division of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. jlipman@gasbone.herston.uq.edu.au
J
J
Lipman
C D
CD
Gomersall
T
T
Gin
G M
GM
Joynt
R J
RJ
Young
D000328:Adult; D002442:Ceftazidime / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D003422:Critical Care; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged
D002511:Cephalosporins; D002442:Ceftazidime