Population pharmacokinetic parameters for Bayesian monitoring of amikacin therapy in intensive care unit patients.

The pharmacokinetics of amikacin has been studied in 40 intensive care unit patients using the bayesian estimation method implemented in the USC PC PACK program of Jelliffe. The volume of the central compartment was significantly higher in these patients than in the reference population, while other pharmacokinetic parameters did not differ significantly from the reference values. The population values may be employed, in addition to those supplied with the software, to adapt dosage regimens of amikacin in ICU patients.