Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026

A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis
Published on: August 12, 2020
Gentamicin in neonates at risk for sepsis - peak serum concentrations are not necessary
Luke F Reynolds1, Timothy L Mailman, Douglas D McMillan
1Faculty of Medicine;
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.
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