Use of colistin in children is rising in line with the increase of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB). In adults, a colistin loading dose is recommended to achieve therapeutic concentrations within 12-24 h. Here we aimed to describe the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of a loading dose versus a recommended initial dose of intravenous colistimethate sodium (CMS) in paediatric patients. A prospective, open-label, PK study was conducted in paediatric patients (age 2-18 years) with normal renal function. Patients (n = 20) were randomly assigned to receive either a CMS loading dose (LD group) of 4 mg of colistin base activity (CBA)/kg/dose or a standard initial dose (NLD group) of 2.5 mg (12-h interval) or 1.7 mg (8-h interval) of CBA/kg/dose. Serial blood samples were collected. Plasma concentrations of formed colistin were measured by LC-MS/MS. PK parameters were reported. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was monitored by serum creatinine and urine NGAL. The median (interquartile range) age and body weight were 8.5 (3.5-11.3) years and 21.5 (13.5-20.0) kg. The mean (standard deviation) of first-dose PK parameters of the LD group versus the NLD group were: Cmax, 6.1 (2.4) vs. 4.1 (1.3) mg/L; AUC0-t, 26.5 (12.5) vs. 13.5 (3.6) mg/L·h; Vd, 0.7 (0.4) vs. 0.6 (0.3) L/kg; and t1/2, 2.9 (0.6) vs. 2.6 (0.4) h. No patient developed AKI by serum creatinine criteria. A CMS loading dose is beneficial for improvement of colistin exposure without increased AKI. A higher daily dose of CMS should be considered, especially for MDR-GNB treatment.
Keywords: Colistin; Multidrug-resistant bacteria; Paediatrics; Pharmacodynamics; Pharmacokinetics.
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