The relationship between serum vancomycin trough and patient age: examining the performance of a high dose regimen.

Background: Vancomycin dosing practices are not well standardized in the pediatric population. Furthermore, vancomycin pharmacokinetics may be heterogeneous across pediatric age categories and similar doses can produce different serum trough levels. In this study, we sought to characterize the relationship between higher initial doses and resultant initial troughs in different pediatric age categories, in order to evaluate attainment of goal troughs as suggested by current guidelines. Methods: As part of a quality improvement initiative, we developed hospital-wide dosing guidelines for pediatric patients 1 month to 18 years of age, using empiric 15mg/kg every 6 hours (standard …