New perspectives of vancomycin monitoring

Abstract

Vancomycin is an antibiotic mainly used to treat infections caused by gram-positive bacteria. Currently, the monitoring of vancomycin treatment is carried out through the trough of plasma concentration, but the new studies and recommendations suggest the use of the ratio between the area under the plasma concentration curve and the minimum inhibitory concentration of the bacterium (AUC/MIC) for monitoring patients, especially in pediatrics due to the high variability of pharmacokinetic parameters in this population. The AUC/MIC of vancomycin can be determined using Bayesian software or by the trapezoid method with similar results and only practical differences. Comparative studies between monitoring by AUC/MIC and trough levels have shown better results of efficacy and safety in the use of vancomycin in those groups monitored by AUC/MIC and corroborate with the new recommendations.