An updated comparison of drug dosing methods. Part III: Aminoglycoside antibiotics.

Aminoglycoside antibiotics continue to be useful for the treatment of Gram-negative infections. Available dosing methods include predictive algorithms and nomograms, pharmacokinetics-based dosing methods, and methods that incorporate Bayesian forecasting. The individualised Sawchuk-Zaske and Bayesian methods have been extensively evaluated since the previous review in the Journal. Both methods continue to be rapid and accurate means of individualising dosage requirements for patients with diverse pharmacokinetic profiles. The predictive performance of the Bayesian method can be further enhanced when population-based parameters reflect the patient population being monitored. There are now several cost-effectiveness studies that demonstrate that pharmacokinetic dosing services for aminoglycosides result in cost savings, better therapeutic concentrations, fewer toxic serum concentrations, and shorter mean durations of hospital stay and aminoglycoside therapy. Further studies are needed for cost-effectiveness and comparison of various dosing methods in paediatric and neonatal patients.