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Published on: August 30, 2018
Population pharmacokinetics of cefazolin in critically ill children infected with methicillin-sensitive
E Salvador1, M Oualha1, E Bille2
1Department of Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Necker Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris Descartes University, Sorbonne-Paris Cité, 149 Rue de Sèvres, 75015, Paris, France; Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation in Children and Pregnant Women EA7323, Paris Descartes University, 27 Rue Du Faubourg Saint Jacques, 75014, Paris, France.
Insights
Continuous cefazolin infusion optimizes dosing for critically ill children with methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infections. This approach ensures effective drug exposure, crucial for achieving therapeutic targets in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- Cefazolin is a primary treatment for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infections.
- Growth and critical illness significantly alter pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters in children.
- Optimizing cefazolin dosing is essential for effective treatment in critically ill pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a population PK model for cefazolin in critically ill children.
- To optimize cefazolin dosing regimens for MSSA infections in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- Included critically ill children (<18 years, >2.5 kg BW) with MSSA infections receiving cefazolin.
- Quantified cefazolin plasma concentrations using high-performance liquid chromatography.
- Utilized population PK modeling (MONOLIX) and Monte Carlo simulations to achieve target drug exposure (100% fT > 4xMIC).
Main Results:
- A one-compartment PK model was established for 39 pediatric patients.
- Body weight (BW) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were key covariates influencing cefazolin clearance.
- Continuous infusion regimens of 100-150 mg/kg/day were identified as optimal for achieving PK targets.
Conclusions:
- Continuous cefazolin infusion is the preferred administration route for critically ill children with MSSA.
- This strategy effectively achieves target drug concentrations across varying renal functions.
- Optimized dosing regimens are critical for successful treatment outcomes in pediatric critical care.
Objectives:
Cefazolin is one of curative treatments for infections due to methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Both growth and critical illness may impact the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters. We aimed to build a population PK model for cefazolin in critically ill children in order to optimize individual dosing regimens.
Methods:
We included all children (age < 18 years, body weight (BW) > 2.5 kg) receiving cefazolin for MSSA infection. Cefazolin total plasma concentrations were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. A data modelling process was performed with the software MONOLIX. Monte Carlo simulations were used in order to attain the PK target of 100% fT > 4 ×MIC.
Results:
Thirty-nine patients with a median (range) age of 7 (0.1-17) years and a BW of 21 (2.8-79) kg were included. The PK was ascribed to a one-compartment model, where typical clearance and volume of distribution estimations were 1.4 L/h and 3.3 L respectively. BW, according to the allometric rules, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on clearance were the two influential covariates. Continuous infusion with a dosing of 100 mg/kg/day to increase to 150 mg/kg/day for children with a BW < 10 kg or eGFR >200 mL/min/1.73m2 were the best schemes to reach the PK target of 100% fT> 4 ×MIC.
Conclusions:
In critically ill children infected with MSSA, continuous infusion seems to be the most appropriate scheme to reach the PK target of 100 % fT > 4 ×MIC in children with normal and augmented renal function.
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