[Controlled gentamycin treatment in prematures and newborns (author's transl)]

On the basis of our experience with 50 prematures and newborns and 200 serum level analyses, Gentamycin doses of larger than or equal to 5 mg/kg body weight/day (depending on the pathogenic sensitivity) is necessary in life-threatening infections to obtain a serum level of 4-5 mug/ml. Our findings in this regard correspond with the results of other authors with comparable test systems. However, we found that in ill prematures and newborns, an accumulation inside of 7-10 days is the rule rather than the exception. With increasing length of therapy, Gentamycin treatment should be discontinued if the general condition and/or kidney function worsens. Treatment should be discontinued until the serum concentration has been established or a drop in serum creatine occurs. If there is no possibility of conducting control checks, Gentamycin therapy should not extend more than one week and should not exceed 2 mg/kg body weight/day for prematures and newborns. The available tests for determinin aminoglycosides in the serum must be simplified and standardized so that they can be more readily used. Such a simplification and standardization is possible as we have shown. In this way a basis is established for future follow-up checks and the risk of side effects in the inner ear and kidneys is reduced. The same is true for the new aminoglycosides Tobramycin, Amicacin, Sisomycin.