title: Gentamicin and tobramycin in neonates: comparison of a new extended dosing interval regimen with a traditional multiple daily dosing regimen.
abstract: Because of a lack of data supporting traditional dosing regimens for aminoglycosides, especially in extremely low-birth-weight infants, the authors developed revised dosing guidelines. The new guidelines increased doses to 5 mg/kg (over traditional doses of 2.5 mg/kg) and lengthened the dosing interval. When results of the two regimens were compared in 120 infants, 26.8% of infants in the traditional dosing group had subtherapeutic levels at <5 microg/mL, whereas only 1.3% of infants in the new practice dosing group were subtherapeutic. With the new dosing practice, serum levels in 1.3% of infants also exceeded the upper therapeutic range of 12 microg/mL. In conclusion, by increasing the dose of aminoglycosides and extending the dosing intervals, therapeutic levels-as defined by a C min <2 microg/mL and a C max of 5 to 12 microg/mL--were obtained significantly more often. In essence the regimen involves once daily dosing for infants <1200 g who are >30 days of age and for infants <1200 g who are >7 days of age. Serum concentrations still need to be monitored where clinically indicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Services, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75246, USA.
authors.forename: Minyon L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Avent
authors.forename: Janet S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kinney
authors.forename: Gregory R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Istre
authors.forename: Jonathan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Whitfield
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005839:Gentamicins; D014031:Tobramycin