Pharmacokinetics and Dosage Adjustment of Antibiotics During Continuous Extracorporeal Lung Assistance and Hemofiltration

Abstract

Fifty-eight patients undergoing continuous volume-controlled hemofiltration (CVHF) and extracorporeal lung assistance (ECLA) received drug therapy determined by use of a new predictive algorithm in a validation study. Amikacin, netilmicin, tobramycin, ceftriaxone, vancomycin, and teicoplanin doses were given as predicted from clinical parameters. Corrections were necessary in 15 cases (e.g., CVHF 68% and ECLA 82% precision). There were no statistical differences between predicted and monitored drug doses. The correlation coefficient gave r2 = 0.921. Preliminary results from not yet analyzed drugs (ceftriaxone, teicoplanin) fit well into the curve. Because of rapid intraindividual changes, toxic drugs should continue to be monitored.