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Updated: Aug 16, 2025
Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses
Published on: August 30, 2018
[Performance evaluation of a precision dosing service for vancomycin in a tertiary level pediatric hospital]
Paulo Caceres Guido1, Nieves Licciardone2, Natalia Riva3
1Hospital de Pediatría Garrahan, CABA (Argentina). caceresguido@gmail.com.
Insights
Plasma level-based therapeutic drug monitoring of vancomycin improves pediatric infection treatment. This study shows optimized vancomycin dosing significantly increases drug levels within the therapeutic range, enhancing patient safety and effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Clinical Pharmacy
Background:
Plasma level-based therapeutic drug monitoring of vancomycin is recommended in the treatment of complex pediatric infections in order to increase the probability of achieving safe and effective pharmacotherapy.
Objective:
To retrospectively evaluate the activities and performance of pharmacotherapeutic optimization based on vancomycin levels at a tertiary pediatric hospital between 2007 and 2020.
MéTodos:
Vancomycin levels of pediatric patients were analyzed, assessing care quality indicators and analytical verifications, as well as aspects related to teaching and research. The predictive performance of vancomycin levels was evaluated after adjustment of the therapeutic regimen using a population pharmacokinetic optimization program (BestDose v1.126) considering the coefficient of determination (R2), the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and the root mean square error (RMSE).
Results:
13269 vancomycin level determinations were analyzed; 70% were trough levels and 81% belonged to patients in the intensive care units. Forty percent of the trough levels were within the therapeutic range when adjusted without software. Three hundred seventy-four pharmacotherapeutic interventions, of which 97% were accepted by the treating physician; 75% of the post-adjustment trough levels were within the therapeutic range, compared to 40% when the approach was empirical, a difference that was statistically significant (p=0.03). The values associated with predictive performance (n subgroup of patients = 91) were: R2=0.61, MAPE=28.16%, and RMSE=3.3, which all showed to be adequate.
Conclusion:
The performance of therapeutic vancomycin monitoring and related pharmacokinetic clinical activities showed to be good.
