Monitoring the treatment of sepsis with vancomycin in term newborn infants

Authors

  • José Kleber Kobol Machado University of São Paulo; Faculty of Medicine; Hospital das Clínicas; Department of Pediatrics
  • Rubens Feferbaum University of São Paulo; Faculty of Medicine; Hospital das Clínicas; Department of Pediatrics
  • Edna Maria Albuquerque Diniz University of São Paulo; Faculty of Medicine; Hospital das Clínicas; Department of Pediatrics
  • Thelma S. Okay University of São Paulo; Faculty of Medicine; Hospital das Clínicas; Department of Pediatrics
  • Maria Esther J. Ceccon University of São Paulo; Faculty of Medicine; Hospital das Clínicas; Department of Pediatrics
  • Flávio Adolfo Costa Vaz University of São Paulo; Faculty of Medicine; Hospital das Clínicas; Department of Pediatrics

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0041-87812001000100004

Keywords:

Physiologic monitoring, Newborn infants, Sepsis, Vancomycin, Antimicrobial susceptibility testing

Abstract

A prospective study was conducted to determine if standardized vancomycin doses could produce adequate serum concentrations in 25 term newborn infants with sepsis. Purpose: The therapeutic response of neonatal sepsis by Staphylococcus sp. treated with vancomycin was evaluated through serum concentrations of vancomycin, serum bactericidal titers (SBT), and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). METHOD: Vancomycin serum concentrations were determined by the fluorescence polarization immunoassay technique , SBT by the macro-broth dilution method, and MIC by diffusion test in agar . RESULTS: Thirteen newborn infants (59.1%) had adequate peak vancomycin serum concentrations (20--40 mg/mL) and one had peak concentration with potential ototoxicity risk (>;40 µg/mL). Only 48% had adequate trough concentrations (5--10 mg/mL), and seven (28%) had a potential nephrotoxicity risk (>;10 µg/mL). There was no significant agreement regarding normality for peak and trough vancomycin method (McNemar test : p = 0.7905). Peak serum vancomycin concentrations were compared with the clinical evaluation (good or bad clinical evolution) of the infants, with no significant difference found (U=51.5; p=0.1947). There was also no significant difference between the patients' trough concentrations and good or bad clinical evolution (U = 77.0; p=0.1710). All Staphylococcus isolates were sensitive to vancomycin according to the MIC. Half of the patients with adequate trough SBT (1/8), also had adequate trough vancomycin concentrations and satisfactory clinical evolution. CONCLUSIONS: Recommended vancomycin schedules for term newborn infants with neonatal sepsis should be based on the weight and postconceptual age only to start antimicrobial therapy. There is no ideal pattern of vancomycin dosing; vancomycin dosages must be individualized. SBT interpretation should be made in conjunction with the patient's clinical presentation and vancomycin serum concentrations. Those laboratory and clinical data favor elucidation of the probable cause of patient's bad evolution, which would facilitate drug adjustment and reduce the risk of toxicity or failing to achieve therapeutic doses.

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Published

2001-01-01

Issue

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Monitoring the treatment of sepsis with vancomycin in term newborn infants . (2001). Revista Do Hospital Das Clínicas, 56(1), 17-24. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0041-87812001000100004