Comparison of vancomycin and teicoplanin trough serum levels in patients with infected orthopedic devices: new data for old therapies

Population Pharmacokinetics and Dosage Optimization of Teicoplanin in Children With Different Renal Functions

Objective

The purposes of our study were to investigate the population pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin in Chinese children with different renal functions and to propose the appropriate dosing regimen for these pediatric patients.

Methods

We performed a prospective pharmacokinetic research on children aged 0-10 years, with different renal functions. The population pharmacokinetics model of teicoplanin was developed using NLME program. The individualized optimal dosage regimen was proposed on the basis of the obtained population pharmacokinetics parameters.

Results

To achieve the target trough level of 10-30 mg/L, optimal dosing regimen for children with different renal functions are predicted as follows based on the population PK simulations: children with moderate renal insufficiency need three loading doses of 6 mg/kg q12h followed by a maintenance dose of 5 mg/kg qd; children with mild renal insufficiency require three loading doses of 12 mg/kg q12h followed by a maintenance dose of 8 mg/kg qd; children with normal or augmented renal function should be given three loading doses of 12 mg/kg q12h followed by a maintenance doses of 10 mg/kg qd.

Conclusion

The first study on the population pharmacokinetics of teicoplanin in Chinese children with different renal functions was performed. Individualized dosing regimen was recommended for different renal function groups based on population PK model prediction.

Bacteriological relevance of linezolid vs. vancomycin in postoperative empirical treatment of osteoarticular infections: a retrospective single-center study

BACKGROUND

In 2015, our center replaced vancomycin with linezolid for the postoperative empirical treatment of osteoarticular infections (OAI).

OBJECTIVES

To assess the bacteriological relevance of linezolid for orthopedic postoperative probabilistic antibiotic therapy.

METHODS

Analysis of an observational cohort of patients empirically treated with a combination of linezolid and piperacillin/tazobactam during the immediate postoperative stage for an OAI between July 1^st 2015 and July 1^st 2016, in a French reference center.

RESULTS

Seventy-seven of 126 patients who received a probabilistic postoperative combination of linezolid with piperacillin/tazobactam had microbiological proof of infection. Sixty-six of 77 OAI involved material, including an osteosynthesis in 45 cases (68%) and prosthesis in 21 cases (32%). Infection was due to Gram-positive bacteria in 62 cases (80.5%), mostly S. aureus (n=32, 41.6%), and S. epidermidis (n=14, 18.2%) accounting for 74.2% of Gram-positive bacteria. Among 14 OAI due to S. epidermidis, 11 (78.6%) were due to methicillin-resistant strains. All the S. aureus and S. epidermidis strains were susceptible to linezolid (MICs ≤ 4 mg/L), except in one patient previously treated with linezolid who was infected with a linezolid-resistant S. epidermidis strain (MIC > 256 mg/L).

CONCLUSION

Linezolid can be used empirically in postoperative antibiotic therapy of OAI before obtaining definitive microbial results. Although linezolid resistance is rare in this population, previous oxazolidinone treatment should be documented before initiation of probabilistic postoperative treatment to highlight potential linezolid resistance.

Current pharmacotherapy options for osteomyelitis: convergences, divergences and lessons to be drawn

INTRODUCTION

Antibiotic therapy of osteomyelitis is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach including surgeons and infectious diseases specialists. However, it suffers from a lack of high-quality clinical studies indicating the superiority of one type of therapy over another. Knowing the antibiotics and their main characteristics is important to guide the choice of treatment for patients with osteomyelitis.

AREAS COVERED

The aim of the present article is to review the systemic curative antibiotic therapy of osteomyelitis in adults with a focus on new agents. Diabetic foot osteomyelitis will be briefly discussed separately. A literature search of the PubMed database using the term 'osteomyelitis' alone and in combination with 'hematogenous', 'vertebral', 'biofilm', 'diabetic foot', 'trauma', 'antibiotic' 'daptomycin', 'telavancin', 'tigecycline', 'linezolid', 'ertapenem', 'ceftobiprole' and 'ceftaroline' was carried out.

EXPERT OPINION

Antibiotic treatment of acute and chronic osteomyelitis should be considered as two distinct entities with regard to the choice of the most appropriate antibiotics and the need for surgery. Among the most recently available antibiotics, ertapenem and daptomycin are promising agents for the treatment of osteomyelitis due to resistant bacteria.

Age- and gender-related differences in teicoplanin levels in paediatric patients

OBJECTIVES

Teicoplanin is a glycopeptide antibiotic active against Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant staphylococci. While teicoplanin trough levels (TTLs) >10 mg/L are commonly considered appropriate, levels >20 mg/L are aimed for in the treatment of severe infections. Due to toxicity, it is recommended to avoid levels >60 mg/L.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In our institution, the initial dosing schedule of teicoplanin (10-15 mg/kg every 12 h for three loading doses and every 24 h thereafter) is adapted according to TTLs analysed by a fluorescence polarization immunoassay on treatment days 2 to 4. Teicoplanin peak levels (TPLs) are analysed in selected cases 30 min after the end of infusion. In a retrospective analysis we evaluated 1357 TTLs and 333 TPLs from 410 treatment episodes from 2005 to 2011.

RESULTS

Initial TTLs were <10 mg/L in 14.1% and <20 mg/L in 72.6% of episodes. Toddlers had significantly lower TTLs, with a 2-fold and 2.5-fold increased risk of having levels <10 mg/L (24.6%) and <20 mg/L (82.6%), respectively. For the entire cohort, follow-up TTLs were less likely to be <10 mg/L and more likely to be >20 mg/L when compared with initial TTLs (P < 0.001, each). Adolescent girls had significantly higher initial TPLs (P = 0.001) and significantly higher follow-up TTLs (P = 0.016) than adolescent boys. In parallel, adolescent girls had initial TPLs >60 mg/L significantly more frequently (P = 0.012) and follow-up TTLs <10 mg/L significantly less frequently (P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

More tailored dosing regimens with higher loading doses, especially for toddlers, should be considered. While further pharmacokinetic data in paediatric patients are pending, therapeutic drug monitoring is mandatory.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity associated with dosing schedules that maintain troughs between 15 and 20 milligrams per liter

In an effort to maximize outcomes, recent expert guidelines recommend more-intensive vancomycin dosing schedules to maintain vancomycin troughs between 15 and 20 mg/liter. The widespread use of these more-intensive regimens has been associated with an increase in vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity reports. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to determine the nephrotoxicity potential of maintaining higher troughs in clinical practice. All studies pertaining to vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity between 1996 and April 2012 were identified from PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Controlled Trial Registry, and Medline databases and analyzed according to Cochrane guidelines. Of the initial 240 studies identified, 38 were reviewed, and 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, higher troughs (≥ 15 mg/liter) were associated with increased odds of nephrotoxicity (odds ratio [OR], 2.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.95 to 3.65) relative to lower troughs of <15 mg/liter. The relationship between a trough of ≥ 15 mg/liter and nephrotoxicity persisted when the analysis was restricted to studies that examined only initial trough concentrations (OR, 3.12; 95% CI, 1.81 to 5.37). The relationship between troughs of ≥ 15 mg/liter and nephrotoxicity persisted after adjustment for covariates known to independently increase the risk of a nephrotoxicity event. An incremental increase in nephrotoxicity was also observed with longer durations of vancomycin administration. Vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity was reversible in the majority of cases, with short-term dialysis required only in 3% of nephrotoxic episodes. The collective literature indicates that an exposure-nephrotoxicity relationship for vancomycin exists. The probability of a nephrotoxic event increased as a function of the trough concentration and duration of therapy.