IS AMINOGLYCOSIDE-ASSOCIATED NEPHROTOXICITY UNCOMMON IN THE U.K.?

Abstract

Fifty adult patients who were treated with aminoglycosides (AG) were studied prospectively. All patients were assessed by the investigators for AG-associated nephrotoxicity using criteria as defined by each prescriber, compared to a standard published set of criteria. The prescribers stated that none of the patients suffered toxicity using their criteria. Thirteen patients (26) suffered toxicity using the published criteria. No patients were dosed on a pharmacokinetic basis. All patients with toxicity had trough levels > 2.0 mg/l, and those six patients with severe toxicity also had peak levels > 10.0 mg/l. It is suggested that prescribers in the U.K. may not be as familiar or concerned with AG dosing methods and nephrotoxicity as their U.S. counterparts.