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Correlation of a Vancomycin Pharmacokinetic Model and Trough Serum Concentrations in Pediatric Patients

Cady Ploessl1, Christopher White, Kalen Manasco

  • 1From the *Department of Pharmacy, Georgia Regents Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia; †University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, Augusta, Georgia; and ‡Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|June 30, 2015
PubMed

Insights

This study found no correlation between vancomycin trough concentrations and AUC/MIC ratios in pediatric patients. Further research is needed to determine optimal monitoring strategies for vancomycin therapy in children.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Vancomycin dosing in pediatric patients requires validated therapeutic targets.
  • Area under the curve (AUC) to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ratio ≥400 is a target for vancomycin efficacy.
  • Pediatric-specific validation of pharmacokinetic models for vancomycin is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To validate a pharmacokinetic model for calculating vancomycin AUC/MIC ratio in pediatric patients.
  • To assess the correlation between calculated AUC/MIC ratio and measured vancomycin trough concentrations.
  • To inform optimal vancomycin monitoring strategies in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective evaluation of pediatric patients (3 months to 18 years) receiving vancomycin.
  • Analysis of vancomycin trough concentrations and calculated AUC/MIC ratios.
  • Statistical assessment of the correlation between trough concentrations and AUC/MIC.

Main Results:

  • Forty pediatric patients were included in the study.
  • No significant correlation was found between vancomycin trough concentration and AUC/MIC ratio (r = 0.082, p = 0.07).
  • The mean vancomycin trough concentration was 11 ± 5.5 mcg/mL, and the mean AUC/MIC was 534 ± 373.

Conclusions:

  • The study validates a pharmacokinetic model for vancomycin AUC/MIC calculation in pediatrics.
  • Therapeutic vancomycin trough concentrations may be lower in children compared to adults.
  • Further investigation is required to determine the best method for monitoring vancomycin efficacy in pediatric patients.
Abstract

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