title: Gentamicin in neonates at risk for sepsis - peak serum concentrations are not necessary.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serum gentamicin concentrations (GSCs) are frequently obtained before and after gentamicin administration to newborns with, or at high risk for, sepsis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether performing a peak GSC assay when the trough GSC is within the guidelines for care would add clinically relevant information for health care workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of the IWK Health Centre (Halifax, Nova Scotia) laboratory database for peak and trough GSC for infants <28 days after birth was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 5253 paired samples of trough and peak GSCs, 3001 (57%) had trough GSCs ≤2 μg/mL. Of these, only nine (0.3%) had a peak GSC >10 μg/mL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Performing a peak GSC measurement does not provide further clinically important data and increases patient morbidity and hospital costs.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine;
authors.forename: Luke F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Timothy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Mailman
authors.forename: Douglas D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: McMillan
keywords: Aminoglycoside; Cost-effectiveness; Dosing; Gentamicin; Neonate; Toxicity