Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration of aminoglycoside antibiotics in critically ill patients

The effect of continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration on the clearance of either tobramycin or gentamicin (mean dose, 1.65 +/- 0.36 mg/kg) was studied in eight critically ill patients. Mean aminoglycoside clearance by hemofiltration was 3.47 +/- 1.93 mL/min and total body clearance was 11.92 +/- 3.51 mL/min. Hemofiltration clearance (HFCL) was directly correlated with hemofiltration flow rate (HFQR): HFCL (mL/min) = 1.03 HFQR (mL/min)-0.88 (R = .89). Mean volume of distribution was 0.31 +/- 0.08 L/kg, and the elimination rate constant was 0.020 +/- 0.01 hr-1. Continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration was responsible for the removal of between 3% and 36% of each aminoglycoside dose in 24 hours. In critically ill patients with changing hemofiltration flow rates, measurement of multiple serum aminoglycoside concentrations is necessary to accurately assess dosing requirements and avoid ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity.