Review of Continuous-Infusion Vancomycin (February).

Link to article at PubMed

Review of Continuous-Infusion Vancomycin (February).

Ann Pharmacother. 2013 Feb 5;

Authors: Dimondi JP, Rafferty K

Abstract
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the efficacy and safety of administering vancomycin as a continuous infusion.DATA SOURCES:Literature was accessed through MEDLINE (1977-September 2012), Embase (1977-September 2012), and Google Scholar, using the terms vancomycin, continuous, discontinuous, infusion, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and nephrotoxicity. In addition, reference citations from publications identified were reviewed.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:All English-language articles identified from the DATA SOURCES: Infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carry a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. Vancomycin is commonly prescribed for invasive MRSA infections and has been traditionally administered as an intermittent infusion. Administering vancomycin as a continuous infusion is a novel approach to improving its efficacy and safety profile. Fourteen clinical trials were reviewed (2 prospective, 1 meta-analysis, 11 retrospective). The pharmacodynamic profiles between continuous-infusion vancomycin and intermittent-infusion vancomycin were comparable. Continuous-infusion therapy did not significantly improve the efficacy of vancomycin in the treatment of invasive MRSA infections. Conflicting RESULTS: Overall, currently available evidence is insufficient to conclude whether an improvement in vancomycin efficacy exists when it is administered as a continuous infusion. The risk of nephrotoxicity associated with continuous-infusion vancomycin requires further investigation in prospective randomized trials. Specific patient populations that would benefit from continuous-infusion vancomycin have yet to be determined.

PMID: 23386074 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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