Recommended gentamicin peak plasma levels rarely reached, even with recommended dosages

Abstract

Introduction

The recommended gentamicin peak plasma concentration range is 32–40 mg/L; we aimed to determine how frequently it was reached, and for which gentamicin doses.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively reviewed 601 gentamicin peak plasma concentrations in 501 patients aged ≥15 in our institution between 2013 and 2023.

Results

Median gentamicin dose was 5.9 mg/kg [IQR 4.1–7.9]. Median peak plasma concentration was 16.5 mg/L [IQR 10.8–22.8] and was strongly correlated with dose (p < 0.0001). Only 5.7 % of values were ≥32 mg/L, including 22.8 % for dose ≥10 mg/kg.

Conclusion

This suggests that existing recommendations regarding either dose or target concentration for gentamicin should be modified.