Population pharmacokinetic analysis of tobramycin in serum and ELF using data from patients with pneumonia.

Population pharmacokinetic analyses were undertaken to characterize epithelial lining fluid (ELF) penetration for tobramycin in pneumonia patients. A two-compartment model with zero-order intravenous input and first-order elimination linked to an effect site ELF compartment was utilized to determine the steady-state ELF penetration ratio of 0.51 for tobramycin. These results are useful to account for effect site exposure when performing analyses to support recommendations for aminoglycoside dosing regimens and interpretive criteria for susceptibility testing.