Vancomycin removal during low-flux and high-flux extended daily hemodialysis in critically ill septic patients.

AIMS: To determine the extent of vancomycin removal and vancomycin pharmacokinetics in septic patients with AKI using daily hemodialysis with polysulphone high-flux and low-flux membrane.
METHODS: Five patients received 6 h daily dialysis with low-flux polysulphone membrane, four patients with high-flux polysulphone membrane. Vancomycin was administered over the last hour of dialysis. The maintenance dose was adjusted based on pre-hemodialysis serum concentrations. Patients were followed up for two days.
RESULTS: Median percentage of vancomycin removal by low-flux membrane dialysis was 17% (8-38%) and by high-flux membrane dialysis was 31% (13-43%). Vancomycin clearance was only moderately higher in high-flux membrane dialysis (median 3.01 L/h, range 2.34-3.5 L/h) compared to low-flux dialysis (median 2.48 L/h, range 0.53-5.68 L/h) in the first day of the study. About two-fold higher vancomycin clearance in high-flux dialysis (median 3.62 L/h, range 1.37-5.07 L/h) was observed on the second day of the study than low-flux dialysis (median 1.74 L/h, range 0.75-30.94 L/h).
CONCLUSIONS: Both high-flux and low-flux membrane dialysis remove considerable amounts of vancomycin in critically ill septic patients with AKI. Application of vancomycin after each dialysis was required to maintain therapeutic concentrations.