Evaluation of pharmacokinetic target attainment and hematological toxicity of linezolid in pediatric patients.

Background: Linezolid is commonly used to treat severe and/or resistant Gram-positive infections. Few studies have assessed its pharmacokinetic (PK) target attainment in pediatrics.

Objective: To evaluate the percentage of pediatrics achieving the PK targets of linezolid with standard dosing regimens and to assess the incidence and risk factors associated with its hematologic toxicity.

Evaluation of pharmacokinetic pharmacodynamic target attainment of meropenem in pediatric patients.

Background: Meropenem is a widely used carbapenem for treating severe pediatric infections. However, few studies have assessed its pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) in pediatric patients. This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of Saudi pediatric patients achieving the PK/PD target of meropenem.

Evaluation of vancomycin individualized model-based dosing approach in neonates.

Background: Vancomycin is commonly used to treat methicillin-resistant staphylococcal infections in neonates. Consensus on its ideal dosing in neonates has not been achieved. Model-based dosing recently has evolved as an important tool to optimize vancomycin initial dosing.

Quality appraisal of antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines to prevent infective endocarditis following dental procedures: a systematic review.

Objective: To assess the quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the use of antimicrobial prophylaxis to prevent infective endocarditis in indicated dental procedures.

Study Design: We searched on Medline/OVID, CINAHL/EBSCO, and EMBASE from January 2011 to January 2022. We included de novo guidelines and excluded adapted or adopted guidelines, and guidelines published before 2011.

International alliance and AGREE-ment of 71 clinical practice guidelines on the management of critical care patients with COVID-19: a living systematic review.

Objective: We aimed to systematically identify and critically assess the clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the management of critically ill patients with COVID-19 with the AGREE II instrument.

Study Design And Setting: We searched Medline, CINAHL, EMBASE, CNKI, CBM, WanFang, and grey literature from November 2019 - November 2020. We did not apply language restrictions.

AUC- vs. Trough-Guided Monitoring of Vancomycin in Infants.

Objective: Improving vancomycin therapy with therapeutic drug monitoring is recommended. Over the past few years, a few studies have demonstrated that trough concentrations may not be the optimal parameter for monitoring vancomycin concentration and Area under the curve (AUC) should be used instead. In this study authors evaluate two methods to estimate the AUC.

Correction to: Vitamin D status and vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism in Saudi children with acute lower respiratory tract infection.

The correct affiliations for all authors are as given below.

Optimizing Gentamicin Dosing in Pediatrics Using Monte Carlo Simulations.

Gentamicin is known to have concentration-dependent bactericidal activity, and its nephrotoxic effect is well described. We developed a population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model to optimize gentamicin dosing in pediatrics. Data were retrospectively collected for pediatric patients 1 month to 12 years of age, admitted to general pediatric wards or intensive care units and received gentamicin for suspected or proven Gram-negative infections at King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Vitamin D status and vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism in Saudi children with acute lower respiratory tract infection.

There is a significant association exists between vitamin D deficiencies, low respiratory tract infections, and certain types of VDR gene polymorphism. Various studies are being conducted to prove any such link between the different clinical conditions due to disturbed vitamin D regulation and VDR gene polymorphisms. The present study analyzed the presence of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms (ApaI and TaqI) in Saudi pediatric patient suffering from acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) cases.

Optimizing Amikacin Dosage in Pediatrics Based on Population Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Modeling.

Objective: Our objective was to determine the population pharmacokinetic parameters of amikacin in pediatric patients to contribute to the future development of a revised optimum dose and population-specific dosing regimens.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review in non-critical pediatric patients (aged 1-12 years) who received amikacin for suspected or proven Gram-negative infection at a university hospital. The population pharmacokinetic models were developed using Monolix 4.

Optimizing Vancomycin Monitoring in Pediatric Patients.

Background: Several studies have reported that trough levels may not be optimal for monitoring vancomycin therapy, because of overexposure and nephrotoxicity risks. Therefore, we developed a population pharmacokinetic model to optimize vancomycin dosing and monitoring in pediatrics.

Methods: Data were retrospectively collected on 76 pediatric patients 1-12 years of age, admitted to general pediatric wards or intensive care units at King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Pediatric acute kidney injury induced by concomitant vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam.

Background: Vancomycin is very commonly used in combination with piperacillin-tazobactam (PTZ) as the initial empiric treatment for moderate-severe infection, whenever coverage for both methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is required. The combination of vancomycin and PTZ in adults has recently been reported to significantly increase the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) relative to vancomycin monotherapy; such reports in pediatrics, however, are sparse.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of pediatric patients, aged 0-14 years, who were admitted to the general wards or intensive care unit and developed AKI after receiving vancomycin and PTZ concomitantly for >48 h.

Management of convulsive status epilepticus in children: an adapted clinical practice guideline for pediatricians in Saudi Arabia.

Objective:: To increase the use of evidence-based approaches in the diagnosis, investigations and treatment of Convulsive Status Epilepticus (CSE) in children in relevant care settings.

Method:: A Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) adaptation group was formulated at a university hospital in Riyadh. The group utilized 2 CPG validated tools including the ADAPTE method and the AGREE II instrument.