[Clinical efficacy and nephrotoxicity of gentamicin in single-dose parenteral administration of total individually adapted daily dosage].
The efficacy of gentamicin given intravenously once daily in a single, individually-adapted dose in form of a short infusion was confirmed in 30 patients with febrile urogenitary infections, taking nephrotoxicity into consideration. Antibiotic therapy was given for 7 days in each case, the individual dose of gentamicin being chosen from the dosage schedule according to Mawer. Depending on weight, age and renal function we used daily doses ranging from 160 to 480 mg (i.e. 2 to 5 mg/kg) of gentamicin. All patients were cured and all gram-negative bacteria were eliminated; no nephrotoxicity was recorded, as verified by constantly low serum levels of gentamicin (below the recommended peak level of 2 micrograms/ml) and non-significant changes in serum creatinine level. According to our results and to the findings of other investigations cited in the literature we conclude that in gentamicin therapy the once-daily individually--adapted intravenous dosage regimen is superior to to continuous administration by means of repeated daily doses with regard to efficacy and absence of nephrotoxicity.