The pharmacokinetics of once-daily dosing with gentamicin in women with postpartum endometritis

✍ Scribed by J.A. Sunyecz; H.C. Wiesenfeld; R.P. Heine

• Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 49 KB
• Volume: 6
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1064-7449
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-0997(1998)6:4<160::aid-idog4>3.0.co;2-c

✦ Synopsis

Objective: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics and cost of once-daily dosing with gentamicin in women with postpartum endometritis.

Methods: Gentamicin in a single daily dose of 4.5 mg/kg was administered intravenously to 10 women with postpartum endometritis. Peak and trough gentamicin levels were measured, and nephrotoxicity and clinical ototoxicity were monitored. Pharmacokinetic data were analyzed, and a cost analysis of once-daily gentamicin administration was performed.

Results: The mean elimination constant was 0.105 ± 0.008 L/h, and the mean volume of distribution was 0.34 ± 0.07 L/kg. Mean peak gentamicin levels exceeded 11 mg/L, and all trough levels were <0.3 mg/L. Cost savings of 44% were achieved with once-daily dosing of gentamicin, compared with traditional thrice-daily dosing.

Conclusions: Once-daily dosing with gentamicin in women with postpartum endometritis achieves therapeutic peak levels without drug accumulation. Substantial cost savings are realized with this dosing regimen.