Abstract
Amikacin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that is effective against gram negative bacilli which are resistant to other aminoglycoside antibiotics. Pharmacokinetic data of amikacin in pediatric patients are scant. The pharmacokinetics of amikacin were evaluated in 30 hospitalized children (5 to 14 years of age) with malignancies. Children receiving 15 or 20 mg/kg/24 hr administered every 8 to 6 hours, respectively had peak serum concentrations of 16.9±3.67 μg/ml (mean ± SD) at the end of a one hour infusion. Six and 8 hour serum concentrations were 1.27±1.26 and 0.64±0.92 μg/ml, respectively. The t½ was 78±43.8 minutes and the total clearance was 133±43 ml/min/1.73 m2. The mean volume of distribution was 0.26±0.08 1/kg. No accumulation of amikacin was noted and no side effects occurred. A 9% inactivation of amikacin occurred when incubated in normal donor sera at 37°C for 72 hours with varying concentrations of ticarcillin. Due to the rapid renal clearance and short half life of amikacin in these children, the currently recommended dose of amikacin should be increased and the frequency of administration shortened.
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Cleary, T., Pickering, L., Culbert, S. et al. 236 PHARMACOKINETICS OF AMIKACIN IN CHILDREN WITH MALIGNANCIES. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 403 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00241
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00241