Once-daily aminoglycosides: practical guidelines

There is ample evidence that once-daily dosing of aminoglycosides is preferable to the conventional regimens during the treatment of serious infections. Experimental and clinical studies also provide evidence that this regimen can be safely used in children, neutropenic patients and endocarditis. The use of once-daily tobramycin in cystic fibrosis merits further study, as the pharmacokinetics of the aminoglycosides are altered in these patients. The dose-adjustment strategy in patients with renal failure is still controversial, but reducing the daily dose whilst maintaining the q24-h interval has been demonstrated to be safe. Although the value of serum level monitoring in ensuring efficacy and avoiding toxicity has been overestimated in the past, especially in patients with renal failure, an undesirable accumulation of the aminoglycosides can occur. The best way to detect accumulation remains to be defined.