Gentamicin dosage in children with extensive burns.

During the treatment of Gram-negative bacillary infections in severely burned children, it was noted that administration of standard dosages of gentamicin commonly produced inadequately low serum concentrations of the antibiotic. Pharmakokinetic studies demonstrated that mean peak serum gentamicin levels were significantly lower in 18 burned children as compared with peak serum levels in five unburned children. Furthermore, inadequately low peak serum levels (less than 3.0 mug/ml) were observed in 15 of 18 burned children and in only one unburned child. Clearance studies in two children suggested that the increased requirement for gentamicin can result from either loss of the antibiotic across burn wounds or increased urinary excretion. These studies indicate that the therapy of severe infections in children with major burns often requires administration of gentamicin at higher doses and more frequent intervals than usually employed.