Use of vancomycin and acute kidney injury in critically ill patients with sepsis or septic shock: A retrospective observational cohort study

Introduction

The independent association of vancomycin with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in the critically ill patient with sepsis or septic Shock is controversial.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of AKI in a cohort of patients with sepsis or septic Shock with an adequate and strict monitoring of vancomycin, guided by the area under the concentration-time curve in relation to the minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC/MIC ratio).

Material and methods

Retrospective cohort study on 106 patients admitted to the ICU with a diagnosis of sepsis or septic shock with vancomycin treatment, consecutively from January 2017 to December 2019.

AKI was defined according to Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria. Risk factors associated with AKI were determined by multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results

In our cohort, 28 patients out of 106 (26%) developed AKI. ICU and 30-day mortality were 18% and 22%, respectively. After multivariable logistic regression adjusted analysis, chronic liver disease was associated with AKI.

Conclusion

In our retrospective cohort study on critical patients with sepsis and septic shock, treated with vancomycin adjusting the dose guided by a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic monitoring to achieve the target AUC_0-24/CMI ratio, the incidence of AKI was 26%.