Removal of vancomycin administered during dialysis by a high-flux dialyzer

Hemodialysis patients frequently receive vancomycin for treatment of gram-positive bacterial infections. This drug is most conveniently administered in outpatient dialysis units during the hemodialysis treatment. However, there is a paucity of data on the removal of vancomycin by high-flux polyamide dialyzers.

This is a prospective crossover study in which seven uninfected chronic hemodialysis patients at three dialysis units received vancomycin 1 gram intravenously over one hour immediately after the dialysis treatment (Phase 1), and vancomycin 1.5 grams during the last hour of dialysis treatment using a polyarylethersulfone, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyamide high-flux (Polyflux 24R) dialyzer (Phase 2). There was a three-week washout period between phases. Serial serum vancomycin concentrations were used to determine the removal of vancomycin when administered during dialysis.

Dialysis removed 35 ± 15% (range 18-56%) of the vancomycin dose when administered during the last hour of dialysis. The calculated area under the curve (AUC) of vancomycin levels for 0-44.5 hours from the start of infusion were similar between the two phases (AUC_{Phase 1} 884 ± 124 mg-hr/L, mean ± SD; AUC_{Phase 2} 856 ± 208 mg-hr/L; P=0.72). Serum vancomycin concentrations immediately prior to the next dialysis treatment following vancomycin administration were also similar between the two phases (13.1 ± 2.7 mg/L in Phase 1 and 12.3 ± 3.3 mg/L in Phase 2; P=0.55).

When using a polyarylethersulfone, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and polyamide high-flux HD membrane with a 24R Polyflux dialyzer, vancomycin can be administered during the last hour of dialysis if the dose that is prescribed for intra-dialysis dosing is empirically increased to account for intra-dialytic drug removal.