Pharmacist-managed aminoglycoside therapy in combination with a beta-lactam agent in the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia in critically ill patients.

We attempted to determine the outcome of treatment with aminoglycosides, dosed pharmacokinetically using traditional strategies, in combination with synergistic antibiotics in the management of nosocomial pneumonia in critically ill patients over a 1-year period. Twenty-three adults cared for in an intensive care unit received an aminoglycoside dosed by a pharmacist plus a beta-lactam antibiotic. Of these, 21 experienced clinical cure of the disease and 2 died of unrelated complications. No treatment failures were encountered. Therapy with aminoglycosides, dosed by traditional pharmacokinetic methods, in combination with synergistic antimicrobials, was effective in managing nosocomial pneumonia in this nontertiary care regional referral center.