Comparison of two gentamicin dosing schedules in very low birth weight infants

Abstract

The q48h dosing schedule of gentamicin given to very low birth weight infants during the first week after birth achieved therapeutic serum gentamicin concentrations and potentially higher peak to MIC ratios for microorganisms in all infants. However, nearly one-third of the infants had extremely low serum gentamicin concentrations before the next dose. A dosing interval of 36 h might be optimal for bactericidal activity and avoid bacterial growth during prolonged periods of extremely low serum gentamicin concentrations; this dosing interval warrants study.