Optimal dose of vancomycin for treating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia in critically ill patients.

A prospective cohort study was performed to determine the optimal dose of vancomycin to maintain a serum trough concentration of at least 15 to 20 mg/l and to assess the efficacy of this target vancomycin concentration in the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia. Vancomycin pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using a CAPSIL software program from serum concentrations of 141 patients with pneumonia treated with vancomycin, regardless of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus status, at a 28-bed medical intensive care unit. Vancomycin trough concentrations and other pharmacokinetic parameters were compared between five groups of patients differing in their renal function: 1) creatinine clearance >60 ml/minute, 2) creatinine clearance 30 to 60 ml/minute, 3) creatinine clearance <30 ml/minute, 4) on intermittent haemodialysis, and 5) on continuous renal replacement therapy. More than 70% of patients failed to reach the recommended therapeutic serum trough concentrations...