Evaluation of continuous ampicillin/sulbactam infusion in critically ill patients

Continuous infusion (CI) of beta-lactam-antibiotics may improve pharmacodynamics in critically ill patients, but resulting concentrations have not been studied. Therapeutic drug monitoring is increasingly used to ensure antibiotic concentration. The aim of this study is to evaluate therapeutic ampicillin/sulbactam concentrations of a continuous infusion regimen.

METHODS

Medical records of all patients admitted to ICU between January 2019 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Each patient received a 2/1 g ampicillin/sulbactam loading dose, followed by a continuous infusion of 8/4 g per 24 h. Ampicillin serum concentrations were measured. Main outcomes were reaching of plasma concentrations breakpoint defined by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC at 8 mg/l) and 4-fold MIC (MIC at 32 mg/l) during steady state of CI.

RESULTS

In 50 patients a total of 60 concentration measurements were performed. The first concentration was measured after a median of 29 h (IQR 21-61 h). Mean ampicillin concentration was 62.6 ± 39.1 mg/l. Furthermore, serum concentrations exceeded the defined MIC breakpoint in all measurements (100 %) and were above the 4-fold MIC in 43 analyses (71.1 %). However, patients suffering from acute kidney injury exhibited significant higher serum concentrations (81.1 ± 37.7 mg/l vs. 38.2 ± 24.8 mg/l; p < 0.001). Also, there was a negative correlation between ampicillin serum concentrations and GFR (r = -0.659; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The described dosing regimen for ampicillin/sulbactam is safe with respect to the defined MIC breakpoints for ampicillin, and continuous subtherapeutic concentration is unlikely. However, with impaired renal function drug accumulation occurs, and with increased renal clearance, drug levels can be below the 4-fold MIC breakpoint.

[Neglected, lonely and sick - the social breakdown : A special patient group in the emergency department]

BACKGROUND

The emergency department (ED) is increasingly becoming the primary care unit of patients who are no longer able to meet the necessary minimum requirements for a healthy life. In the emergency medical care of these patients, fixation errors and stereotyped thinking can distract from serious illnesses, which can be tended by emergency medicine. This group of patients, with their multifactorial problems, represents a special challenge for the staff of the ED. The aim of this study is to improve the quality of the care for a special patient group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A monocentric retrospective observation study was conducted at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB). On the basis of case studies, the emergency medical care of this special patient group was examined in the ED.

RESULTS

Over the period of 7 years (2009 to 2016), 17 patients in a state of total neglect could be examined. The endpoints identified, during the emergency care, are the therapy of life-threatening diseases, laboratory pathologies, introduction of infectious protective measures, initiation of diagnostic measures, measures to be initiated within different departments (operating room, intensive care unit) and outcome.

CONCLUSION

Patients in a state of total neglect require interdisciplinary primary care at a hospital with extended care structures. The apparent primary impression of these patients must not lead to a fixation error. Due to the often not obtainable history of the patient's and the complex appearance of these patients, the evaluation should be carried out according to a defined algorithm in the emergency room.