PHARMACOKINETICS OF AMIKACIN IN INFANTS AND PRE‐SCHOOL CHILDREN

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Abstract
The pharmacokinetic properties of amikacin sulfate in infants and children aged from 3 wk to 6 yr were studied during treatment with doses of 7.5 mg/kg every 12 h using standard assay methods and technique of 2 compartment open model kinetic analysis. Peak serum concentrations of amikacin were measured 30 or 60 min after the 1st i.m. injection. These ranged from 11.8-23 .mu.g/ml in infants and from 9.0-29 .mu.g/ml in children. Five minutes after the 1st i.v. bolus injection they varied from 16-29.8 .mu.g/ml in infants and from 34-42 .mu.g/ml in children. Twelve hours after injection serum concentrations were less than 0.8 .mu.g/ml in all patients. Mean serum half-lives of amikacin in infants and children were 2.1 h and 2.0 h after i.m., and 2.2 and 2.0 h after i.v. administration, respectively. No evidence of accumulation was observed after 4 days treatment. The amount of antibiotic recovered within 12 h from the urine in all patients ranged from 34.5-65% of an i.m. dose, and from 45.8-63.3% of an i.v. dose. The dosage regime of 7.5 mg/kg body weight given every 12 h should be safe and effective for the treatment of infections in the age groups studied.