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Absorption of orally administered gentamicin in infants with diarrhea
Insights
Oral gentamicin use in infants with diarrhea may lead to absorption. Prolonged diarrhea correlates with higher plasma gentamicin levels, suggesting increased gastrointestinal absorption in infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Neonatal Pharmacology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Oral gentamicin is sometimes recommended for infantile diarrhea.
- Limited data exist on gentamicin absorption in infants with damaged intestinal mucosa.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate plasma gentamicin concentrations in infants with prolonged diarrhea receiving oral gentamicin.
- To assess the relationship between diarrhea duration and gentamicin absorption.
Main Methods:
- 14 infants with prolonged diarrhea were treated with oral gentamicin (mean dose: 17 mg/kg every 8 hr).
- Serial plasma gentamicin levels were measured post-administration.
- Correlation analysis was performed between diarrhea duration and plasma concentrations.
Main Results:
- Average plasma gentamicin concentrations were low and stable (0.31 +/- 0.12 µg/ml), despite individual variations.
- A significant positive correlation was observed between diarrhea duration and plasma gentamicin levels (r = 0.59, P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Prolonged diarrhea in infants may enhance gastrointestinal absorption of oral gentamicin.
- Intestinal mucosal damage in diarrhea could facilitate the absorption of this polar antibiotic molecule.
Abstract:
The use of oral gentamicin in infantile diarrhea is recommended by some authors. However, no data are available concerning the gastrointestinal absorption of gentamicin in infants when the mucosa of the small intestine is damaged. In this study, plasma gentamicin concentrations were measured in 14 infants suffering from prolonged diarrhea and treated with oral gentamicin (mean dose: 17 mg/kg every 8 hr). Plasma gentamicin levels were determined serially following the oral dose. Although marked individual and erratic temporal variations existed, average plasma gentamicin concentrations were low and stable (0.31 +/- 0.12 micrograms/ml). A positive correlation was found between the duration of the diarrhea and plasma gentamicin concentrations (r = 0.59, P less than 0.05). It is theorized that the damage to the mucosa as it occurs in prolonged diarrhea allows the absorption of the polar gentamicin molecule.