Evaluation of Dosing Regimens of Vancomycin and Aminoglycosides in Pediatric Patients on Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimal empiric dosing regimen to achieve therapeutic serum concentrations of vancomycin and aminoglycosides in pediatric patients who are receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).

METHODS: This retrospective study investigated pediatric patients (<18 years old) who received at least one dose of an aminoglycoside and/or vancomycin while on CRRT and who had at least one serum concentration assessed during the study period. Rates of culture clearance and discontinuation of renal replacement therapy, pharmacokinetic variables (i.e., volume of distribution [Vd], half-life [t½], rate of elimination [ke]), and correlations between patient's age and weight in regard to the empiric dosing regimen were evaluated.

RESULTS: Forty-three patients were included in this study. The median dose required to reach therapeutic serum concentrations for vancomycin was 17.6 mg/kg (12.8-20.4 mg/kg) every 12 hours (6-30 hours) in continuous venovenous hemodialysis (CVVHD) patients and 16.3 mg/kg (13.9-21.4 mg/kg) every 12 hours (6-24 hours) in continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) patients. The median dose for aminoglycosides was unable to be determined. In CVVHD patients, the median vancomycin ke was 0.04 hr-1 , t½ was 18 hours, and Vd was 1.6 L/kg. In CVVHDF patients, the median vancomycin ke was 0.05 hr-1 , t½ was 14 hours, and Vd was 0.6 L/kg. No correlation was found between age and weight with regard to effective dosing regimen.

CONCLUSIONS: To achieve therapeutic trough concentrations in pediatric patients on CRRT, vancomycin should be dosed at approximately 17.5 mg/kg administered every 12 hours.