Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To develop and validate a 48-hour gentamicin dosing regimen for infants born at <28 weeks' gestation.

STUDY DESIGN:

Using previously published pharmacokinetic data, we performed Monte Carlo simulations for several candidate gentamicin dosing regimens. On the basis of these simulations, we changed dosing for infants born at <28 weeks to 4.5 mg/kg every 48 hours. We then conducted an observational study of 30 infants on this new regimen and compared serum gentamicin levels with 60 historical control subjects who received 2.5 mg/kg every 24 hours.

RESULTS:

Infants in the 48-hour group achieved higher gentamicin peaks (mean 9.43 microg/mL vs 6.0 microg/mL, P < .001) and lower gentamicin troughs (mean 1.08 microg/mL vs 1.54 microg/mL, P < .001) compared with the 24-hour group. Seven percent of the 48-hour group infants had a gentamicin peak <6 microg/mL versus 43% in the 24-hour group. With a goal for peaks of 6 to 12 microg/mL and for troughs of <1.5 microg/mL, infants in the 48-hour group required fewer adjustments of their dosing regimens compared with the 24-hour group (26.7% vs 78.3%).

CONCLUSIONS:

Gentamicin given every 48 hours to infants born at <28 weeks achieves optimal blood concentrations more frequently than does once-daily dosing. Monte Carlo simulations on the basis of pharmacokinetic modeling are useful to optimize drug dosing in premature infants.