Single daily amikacin intake in burned patients: A pharmacokinetic and clinical study

It is often difficult to reach adequate serum levels in severely burned patients, when aminoglycosides are administered several times a day. Studies performed on intensive care patients, have shown the advantage of a single daily amikacin administration. In this study performed on 29 burned patients, treated with amikacin at 15 mg/Kg/24 h once-daily, serum level variations were analyzed. Bacteriological and clinical response rates were also assessed, as well. as the potential relationship between serum peak values and therapeutic efficacy. Study results suggest that, when used at usual dosage, single-daily administration only allows to reach therapeutic levels, although no correlation could be demonstrated between pharmacokinetic parameters and clinical response.