Successful Utilization of High-Flux Hemodialysis for Treatment of Vancomycin Toxicity in a Child

Vancomycin is routinely used for empiric antibiotic therapy in children. Higher-serum-concentration targets for serious infections are now being recommended. This recommendation may result in aggressive dosing with increased potential for toxicity. We report a case of a pediatric patient who develop...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Timothy Stidham, Pamela D. Reiter, Douglas M. Ford, Gary M. Lum, Joseph Albietz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2011-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Pediatrics
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/678724
Description
Summary:Vancomycin is routinely used for empiric antibiotic therapy in children. Higher-serum-concentration targets for serious infections are now being recommended. This recommendation may result in aggressive dosing with increased potential for toxicity. We report a case of a pediatric patient who developed vancomycin toxicity and associated oliguric renal failure who was treated effectively with high-flux hemodialysis for vancomycin toxicity, clearing serum concentrations of vancomycin by over 75% in only 6 hours (213.2 mcg/mL to 51.8 mcg/mL) with subsequent return to baseline renal function and without adverse sequelae. While not historically considered a viable option for drug removal in cases of toxicity, new high-flux hemodialysis techniques can remove significant percentages of vancomycin in short periods of time.
ISSN:2090-6803
2090-6811