Antimicrobials
Amikacin

Amikacin

Low
N/A

Spectrum of Activity

Dosing

General Information

It is recommended to use Extended Interval Dosing if possible for optimal bactericidal activity, convenience, potentially reduced risk of nephrotoxicity and reduced cost for administration.

Extended interval aminoglycoside dosing is the preferred dosing regimen but should NOT TO BE USED in the following:

  • Burns >20% TBSA (total burn surface area)
  • Ascites
  • Renal impairment (creatinine clearance < 40 mL/min)
  • Endocarditis (unless synergy for Streptococcus spp.)

If excluded, refer to Conventional Dosing.

Serum Drug Concentrations Conventional Dosing: Desired trough level: < 8 mg/L Desired peak level: 20 to 30 mg/L

  • Consult Pharmacist for monitoring and dose adjustments
  • Desired trough concentration (taken prior to the 3rd dose)
  • Desired peak concentration (taken 30 minutes after the complete infusion of the 3rd dose)
  • Lower concentrations may be adequate for less severe infections (i.e. UTI)

Extended Interval Dosing: Desired trough level: < 1 mg/L

  • Consult Pharmacist for monitoring and dose adjustments.
  • May consider drawing a trough concentration after the 1st dose to assess for potential drug accumulation, or drawing a trough concentration if there are concerns with renal function.

Follow-up Monitoring If therapy is to be continued for greater than 7 days then:

  • Twice weekly serum creatinine and BUN to assess for changes in renal function and risk for nephrotoxicity. A rise in serum creatinine of 25% from baseline requires reassessment of continued aminoglycoside use.
  • Weekly serum trough concentrations to assess for drug accumulation and risk for nephrotoxicity
  • Close monitoring for ototoxicity is required. Onset of auditory and vestibular symptoms cannot be readily predicted and may be irreversible once they occur.
  • Consider baseline and ongoing audiometric / vestibular testing in patients who are anticipated to have a prolonged duration of therapy (> 14 days) if possible.
  • If unable to perform testing for ototoxicity, assess regularly for symptoms related to changes in cochlear (e.g. tinnitus, sense of fullness in ears, loss of hearing) and vestibular (e.g. dysequilibrium, oscillopsia, cognitive dysfunction, visual sensitivity, nausea/vomiting, vertigo, headache, nystagmus) function.
  • Avoid concurrent nephrotoxic or ototoxic drugs (e.g. furosemide) whenever possible.

Nephrotoxicity (non-oliguric)

Vestibulocochlear toxicity

Can exacerbate neuromuscular blockade- e.g. contraindicated in patients with myasthenia gravis.

Avoid concurrent nephrotoxic or ototoxic drugs (e.g. furosemide) whenever possible

Recommended Calculations

Body weight calculation (kg) ABW = actual body weight IBW = ideal body weight

  • IBW (male) = 50.0 kg + [2.3 kg x (each inch greater 5 feet)]
  • IBW (female) = 45.5 kg + [2.3 kg x (each inch greater 5 feet)

DBW = dosing body weight

  • DBW = 0.4 x (ABW – IBW) + IBW

For “non-obese” patients use: ABW For “obese” patients use: DBW

  • Consider “obese” if (ABW - IBW) / IBW is greater than 0.2

Creatinine clearance (mL/min) CrCl (male) = [(140 – age) x weight x 60] / [50 x serum creatinine (umol/L)]

CrCl (female) = CrCl (male) x 0.85

Age is in years.

Weight (kg) = ABW if non-obese, or = DBW if obese

Antimicrobial class: Aminoglycoside

Pregnancy category: D