[Gentamycin dosage interval in premature infants].

The effect of dose interval on gentamicin serum concentrations in preterm babies (less than 35 weeks gestational age) was studied in the first week after birth. When gentamicin (2,5 mg/kg) was given intravenously every 12 hours, 53% of the babies had elevated pre dose serum concentrations (greater than 2,0 microgram/ml). This occurred in 27% of the babies when gentamicin was given every 18 hours (p less than 0.01). We recommend that 2.5 mg/kg/18 hours should be used in preterm babies in the first week after birth, although monitoring of gentamicin serum levels remains essential.