Application of USC*PACK clinical programs to vancomycin in neutropenic patients

The pharmacokinetics of vancomycin were studied in 10 neutropenic patients (4 male, 6 female) using the USC*PACK Clinical Programs. The experimental data was determined after the first administration of 1000 mg injected as a 1-h infusion. Eight blood samples were collected between 15 min and 11 h after the end of the infusion. Plasma vancomycin concentrations were measured by immunoassay procedure. Creatinine clearance and urine flow were also measured. Pharmacokinetic parameters were computed using a two-compartment model: Vc = 0.270665 +/- 0.161033 (l.kg-1); Kcp = 0.732927 +/- 0.464449 (h-1); Ks = 0.004952 +/- 0.00272 (min.ml-1.h-1); Kpc = 0.470243 +/- 0.194677 (h-1); Ki = 0.011675 +/- 0.004086 (h-1); Ke = 0.644415 +/- 0.239376 (h-1). When we compared this population to the general population of the program, Ke was increased. Elimination constant Ke was not correlated to either creatinine clearance or urine flow. Evaluation of the predictive performance of the Bayesian PC Program for adaptive control of vancomycin therapy in neutropenic patients is the next step of this study.