Vancomycin pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic parameters to optimize dosage administration in critically ill children.

Objective: Critically ill children may present changes in pharmacokinetic parameters and may not reach effective concentrations of vancomycin with current dosages. The objective of this study is to calculate vancomycin pharmacokinetic parameters in critically ill children and to estimate area under the curve at 24 hrs/minimal inhibitory concentration reached for Staphylococcus aureus.

Design, Setting, And Patients: Children treated with vancomycin, hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit of the Pediatric Hospital-Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell, were included.