The relationship between vancomycin AUC/MIC and trough concentration, age, dose, renal function in Chinese critically ill pediatric patients.

To assess the pharmacokinetic parameters of vancomycin in Chinese critically ill pediatric patients, children treated with vancomycin, hospitalized in the intensive care unit were included. Samples to determine peak and trough serum concentrations were obtained on the third day of treatment. Half-life was significantly longer in neonates and showed a decreasing trend in infants and children. In patients aged ≥1 month, AUC 24 /MIC ≥400 was achieved in 31.8% at the dose of 40 mg/kg/d, and in 48.7% at the dose of 60 mg/kg/d with an assumed MIC of 1 mg/L. Augmented renal clearance (ARC) was present in 27.3% of children, which was associated with higher vancomycin clearance and lower AUC values. A good correlation was observed between trough concentration and AUC 24 , and the trough concentration that correlated with AUC 24 of 400 were varied according to the dosage regimens, 8.42 mg/L for 6-hintervals, and 6.63 mg/L for 8-h intervals. To conclude, vancomycin trough concentration that related to the AUC 24 of 400 was much lower in critically ill children than that in adults. The dosage of 60 mg/kg/day did not enough for producing AUC 24 in the range of 400-600 mg h/L in critically ill children, especially in those with ARC.