Pharmacokinetics of high-dose nebulized amikacin in ventilated critically ill patients

Abstract

Our pharmacokinetic model provided an accurate description of amikacin concentrations following nebulization. There was wide interindividual and interoccasion variability in the absorption and elimination of amikacin. Nevertheless, systemic exposure after nebulization was always much lower than after infusion, an observation suggesting that nebulized high doses are safe in this regard and may be used to treat ventilator-associated pneumonia.