Abstract
To establish a dosage guideline for vancomycin (VCM) in hospitalized infants and neonates, we studied pharmacokinetic parameters. Subjects were 5 neonates and 16 infants undergoing vancomycin therapy to treat infections by MRSA during between August 1998 and August 2001 at our hospital. Pharmacokinetic parameters of vancomycin were estimated by the Sawchuk-Zaske method. A good correlation was obtained between VCM clearance (CL) and body weight (BW). Although good correlations were obtained between serum creatinine (Scr) and the CL and between Scr and elimination half-life, no good correlations were obtained between Vd and Scr and between Vd and BW. Vd in infants and neonates was significantly less than that in adults (0.499±0.199 versus 0.717±0.0249L/h/kg, P<0.05). These results suggested that BW and Scr are useful parameters for developing a dosage guideline.
