Is aminoglycoside-associated nephrotoxicity uncommon in the U.K?

Fifty adult patients who were treated with aminoglycosides (AG) were studied prospectively. All patients were assessed by the investigators for AG-associated nephrotoxicity using criteria as defined by each prescriber, compared to a standard published set of criteria. The prescribers stated that none of the patients suffered toxicity using their criteria. Thirteen patients (26%) suffered toxicity using the published criteria. No patients were dosed on a pharmacokinetic basis. All patients with toxicity had trough levels greater than 2.0 mg/l, and those six patients with severe toxicity also had peak levels greater than 10.0 mg/l. It is suggested that prescribers in the U.K. may not be as familiar or concerned with AG dosing methods and nephrotoxicity as their U.S. counterparts.