Revision of Gentamicin-2024 from Oct 2, 2024

Dosing: Adult Antimicrobial Dosing, Non-dialysis

For UCSF pharmacists, access the pharmacy guidance manual click here

Do not use high-dose extended interval dosing strategy (using Hartford nomogram) in the following populations:

- Cr Cl ≤ 20 ml/min

- Aminoglycoside t ½ > 4.5 hours

- Patients with burns > 20% total burn surface area (TBSA)

- Ascites

- Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients

- Pregnancy (outside of surgical prophylaxis)

- Spinal cord injury

High-dose extended dosing strategy (Hartford nomogram):

Indication CrCl > = 60 mL/min 40-59 mL/min 21-39 mL/min CrCl < = 20 mL/min Comments
Cystitis  5 mg/kg x 1  5 mg/kg x 1 5 mg/kg x 1 Use conventional/traditional dosing No nomogram or levels needed
Other infecions (exclude CF) 7 mg/kg IV q24h 7 mg/kg IV q 36h 7 mg/kg IV q 48h Use conventional/traditional dosing

Obtain 6-14 hour random gentamicin level after first dose to inform future dosing interval

Consider consulting pharmacy to assist with suggested dosing and monitoring

Use Harford dosing nomogram

Do not use this dosing in CF patients
Gram-positive synergy infective endocarditis (IE) involving Staphylococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. 1 mg/kg IV q 8h consult pharmacy to assist with pharmacokinetics calculations 1 mg/kg IV q 12h consult pharmacy to assist with pharmacokinetics calculations Use conventional/traditional dosing Use conventional/traditional dosing  
Gram-positive syngergy in Streptococcus spp. infective endocarditis (IE)  3 mg/kg IV q 24h Use conventional/traditional dosing

Do not use this dosing strategy in Staphylococcus and Enterococcus spp. IE

No optimal drug concentrations identified with this dosing strategy – contact ID pharmacy for guidance

Hartford dosing nomogram (gentamicin/tobramycin 7 mg/kg)

hartford.jpg

Urban Craig (5 mg/kg) dosing nomogram:

 

Chart

Description automatically generated

Conventional/traditional dosing:

Please consult pharmacy to help with dosing and monitoring plan.  Below are suggested peak and trough goals based upon infection:

Conventional/traditional dosing

Gentamicin/Tobramycin 

Infection 

Extrapolated  

Peak Goal  

Extrapolated  

Trough Goal  

Abdominal Infections (including peritonitis)  

6-8 

< 1 (0.5) 

Bacteremia 

6-8 

< 1 (0.5) 

Empiric therapy for Cystic Fibrosis (if cannot do high-dose extended interval dosing)

Extended interval preferred but if impaired renal function consider 8-12 for peak and < 1 (0.5) for trough  

Endocarditis 

Gram positive (‘synergy in divided doses’) * 

Gram negative 

 

3-4 

8-10 

 

< 1 (0.5) 

< 1 (0.5) 

Neutropenic Fever 

6-10 

< 1 (0.5) 

Pneumonia 

8-10 

< 1 (0.5) 

Skin and soft tissue 

infections 

6-8 

< 1 (0.5) 

Urinary tract infections (including pyelonephritis) 

4-6 

< 1 (0.5) 

 

 

 

 

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients:

Gentamicin is not a preferred agent to be used in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections - avoid use.

Dosing: Antimicrobial Dosing in Intermittent & Continuous Hemodialysis

Indication

Intermittent Hemodialysis

Continuous Hemodialysis
All indications

Use conventional/traditional dosing 

Consult pharmacy to assist 

Consult pharmacy to assist with dosing strategy

Dialysis Notes

Intermittent HD assumes high-flux hemodialysis. CRRT assumes CVVHD with ultrafiltration rate 2L/h and residual native GFR < 10 mL/min.

Advise caution in individuals with myasthenia gravis. Aminoglycosides should never be used as monotherapy except in the setting for a urinary tract infection (UTI).  

References: