Sorry I do not understand the difference between ICU and ED! 
And, in the last 25 years the literature on Aminoglycosides changed! 
Thanks

________________________________________
From: Silvers MD, Jeffrey H [[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 4:39 PM
To: Moine, Pierre; Harkey,Jessica; [email protected]
Subject: RE: [Sepsis Groups] Aminoglycoside dosing in severe sepsis/septic      
shock

We are talking about empiric therapy by ED physicians. Not known organisms. 
Patients presenting to the ED with severe sepsis and shock frequently have 
unstable renal function.  Starting with a higher dose of an aminoglycoside in 
that environment is hazardous.  This is very different than ICU or critically 
ill surgical patients where clearly there are indications for using 
aminoglycosides.  Dehydration or muscle wasting decreases the apparent volume 
of distribution. The latter conditions vary widely from patient to patient and 
from hour to hour in critically ill patients. Hence, it is recommended that a 
“peak” serum drug level be measured after the initial dose or the first 
maintenance dose.  The following is from the PPID by Mandel. Note that the 
higher doses of mg/kg in parentheses are for expanded volume patients, the 
opposite of severe sepsis/septic shock. The daily dose depends on the renal 
function. Note that Ccr <40 recommends 2.5 mg/kg/day as the dose for euvolemic 
patients.  I suggest 2 mg/kg/day as your first dose in the ED, if used, because 
the volume of distribution is significantly less in severe sepsis/shock.
TABLE 26-12   -- Suggested Once-Daily Dosage Regimens: Gentamicin or 
Tobramycin*<http://www.expertconsultbook.com/expertconsult/p/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00026-6--tn0070&appID=NGE>
Estimated 
CrCl[†]<http://www.expertconsultbook.com/expertconsult/p/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00026-6--tn0075&appID=NGE>
 (mL/min)

Dosage Interval (hr)

Dose[‡]<http://www.expertconsultbook.com/expertconsult/p/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00026-6--tn0080&appID=NGE>
 (mg/kg)

[cid:[email protected]]   (hr)

Estimated Serum Level after Drug 
Administration[§]<http://www.expertconsultbook.com/expertconsult/p/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00026-6--tn0085&appID=NGE>
 (µg/mL)









1 hr

12 hr

18 hr

24 hr

100

24

5 (7)

2.5

20 
(28)[‡]<http://www.expertconsultbook.com/expertconsult/p/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00026-6--tn0080&appID=NGE>

1.0 
(1.4)[‡]<http://www.expertconsultbook.com/expertconsult/p/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00026-6--tn0080&appID=NGE>

<1

<1

90

24

5 (7)

3.1

20 
(28)[‡]<http://www.expertconsultbook.com/expertconsult/p/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00026-6--tn0080&appID=NGE>

2.0 
(2.3)[‡]<http://www.expertconsultbook.com/expertconsult/p/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00026-6--tn0080&appID=NGE>

<1

<1

80

24

5 (7)

3.4

20 
(28)[‡]<http://www.expertconsultbook.com/expertconsult/p/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00026-6--tn0080&appID=NGE>

2.5 
(2.9)[‡]<http://www.expertconsultbook.com/expertconsult/p/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00026-6--tn0080&appID=NGE>

<1

<1

70

24

4 (5.5)

3.9

16

2.0

<1

<1

60

24

4 (5.5)

4.5

16

3.0

1.5

<1

50

24

3.5 (5.0)

5.3

14

3.5

1.0

<1

40

24

2.5 (3.5)

6.5

10

3.0

1.5

<1

30

24

2.5 (3.5)

8.4

10

4.0

2.5

1.5









1 hr

24 hr

36 hr

48 hr

20

48

4.0 (5.5)

11.9

16

4.0

2.0

1.0

10

48

3.0 (4.0)

20.4

12

5.0

3.0

2.0

0 
(Hemodialysis)[|]<http://www.expertconsultbook.com/expertconsult/p/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00026-6--tn0090&appID=NGE>

48

2.0 (4.0)

69.3

8

7.0

6.0

5.0

Data from Gilbert DN, Lee BL, Dworkin RJ, et al. A randomized comparison of the 
safety and efficacy of once-daily gentamicin or thrice-daily gentamicin in 
combination with ticarcillin-clavulanate. Am J Med. 1998;105:182-191; and 
Gilbert DN, Bennett WM. Use of antimicrobial agents in renal failure. Infect 
Dis Clin North Am. 1989;3:517-531.
CrCl, creatinine clearance; [cid:[email protected]]    , half-life.

Jeffrey Silvers, M.D.
Medical Director of Quality, Eden Medical Center
Infectious Diseases specialist

From: Moine, Pierre [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 9:46 AM
To: Silvers MD, Jeffrey H; Harkey,Jessica; [email protected]
Subject: RE: [Sepsis Groups] Aminoglycoside dosing in severe sepsis/septic shock

Aminoglycosides should be combined with a betalactam for empiric treatment of 
severe sepsis and septic shock, documented Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 
Acinetobacter spp, and MDR GNB infections. They should be used high dose once 
daily (not the FDA recommendations but at least 7 mg/kg for gentamicin and 
tobramycin, and 20-25 mg/kg for amikacin). The use of extended-interval 
aminoglycoside dosage regimens in critically ill surgical patients is based on 
pharmacodynamic endpoints (probability of attaining the target Cmax). 
Administration of aminoglycosides

with the extended-interval dosing scheme has been associated with a lower risk 
for nephrotoxicity. The once-daily dosing schedule provides a longer time of 
administration until the threshold for nephrotoxicity is met. This risk is 
considered to be even lower when the administration is based on individualized 
pharmacokinetic monitoring. The subsequent doses may be tailored according to 
measured plasma aminoglycoside concentrations. In patients with reduced renal 
function, dosing intervals should be extended in order to reach low trough 
levels. Aminoglycosides should be anyway discontinued at 2-5 days.



Pierre Moine

Associate Professor

University of Colorado Denver

School of Medicine

Department of Anesthesiology

________________________________
From: 
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
 [[email protected]] On Behalf Of Silvers MD, Jeffrey 
H [[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 4:26 PM
To: Harkey,Jessica; 
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Sepsis Groups] Aminoglycoside dosing in severe sepsis/septic shock
I don’t recommend aminoglycosides as empiric therapy in septic shock or severe 
sepsis, except in rare circumstances.  We have lots of alternatives and risk of 
nephrotoxicity in that situation is very high. If for some reason, that is what 
the doctor believes should be used, you could give a loading dose of a maximum 
of 2 mg/kg but no subsequent doses until level obtained. I would not use once 
daily dosing either. The best option would be to have your infectious disease 
specialist look at the empiric therapy regimens that the ED doctors are using 
and make suggestions for them to use in general. A good reference for  your 
doctors: The Sanford Guide to Antimicrobial Therapy 2013.

Jeffrey Silvers, M.D.
Medical Director of Quality, Eden Medical Center
Infectious Diseases specialist
From: 
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
 [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of 
Harkey,Jessica
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 10:28 AM
To: 
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: [Sepsis Groups] Aminoglycoside dosing in severe sepsis/septic shock

Hello there. I have been having some discussion with our pharmacists on whether 
or not patients who present to the ED in severe sepsis or septic shock should 
receive a full dose of an aminoglycoside (when indicated) within the first hour 
regardless of Cr clearance? The practice of our ED physicians thus far has been 
to order a full dose, and now we are getting some feedback from pharmacy to 
reduce the dose per renal function, which seems appropriate with consecutive 
doses along with monitoring drug levels. I am concerned about delaying 
administration.  For initial empric therapy what are the rest of you doing in 
such cases? Any literature available for me to share with the pharmacy?
Thank you!

Jessica Harkey, RN, BSN, CCRN
Sepsis Program Coordinator
San Joaquin Community Hospital
661-869-6874
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
[cid:[email protected]]

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