Teicoplanin therapy in children : a review

: Teicoplanin has been investigated mainly in adults and to a lesser extent in children. Pharmacological studies in children aged 2-12 years showed that a daily dose of 3-6 mg/kg of teicoplanin was insufficient to maintain microbiologically effective trough serum levels, while a regimen of 10 mg/kg/day was sufficient to obtain effective serum concentrations. Teicoplanin has been administered, alone or in combination therapy, to neutropenic or non-neutropenic paediatric patients. Combinations of teicoplanin (10 mg/kg/day) plus beta-lactams or aminoglycosides have been found effective in the treatment of febrile episodes in neutropenic (less than 500 pmn/microliters) children. Teicoplanin, 3-10 mg/kg i.v., has been administered as the sole antibiotic agent as a daily dose to more than 100 children and newborns with documented or suspected Gram-positive infections. Overall, teicoplanin was found to be a very effective and well tolerated treatment for Gram-positive infections in pediatric patients. Further trials are required to confirm these observations.