Skip to main content

Pharmacokinetics of Antimicrobials in Obese Children.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Sampson, M; Cohen-Wolkowiez, M; Benjamin, D; Capparelli, E; Watt, K
Published in: GaBI J
2013

INTRODUCTION: Childhood obesity is common and results in substantial morbidity. The most commonly prescribed drugs in obese children are antibiotics. However, physiologic changes associated with childhood obesity can alter antibiotic pharmacokinetics and optimal body size measures to guide dosing in his population are ill defined. This combination can result in therapeutic failures or drug-related toxicities. This review summarizes pharmacokinetic information for antibiotics in obese children and implications for dosing. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts to identify pharmacokinetic studies of antimicrobial agents in obese children. We included the following search terms: obesity, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug toxicity, dosing, anti-infective agents, antiviral agents, and antifungal agents. RESULTS: We identified four pharmacokinetic studies of antibiotics in obese children: one for cefazolin and tobramycin, one for gentamicin, and two for vancomycin. Only the cefazolin/tobramycin trial was prospective. The drugs studied differ in their tissue and body water distribution characteristics. Two of the studies (tobramycin and gentamicin) reported pharmacokinetic differences and required dosing modifications in obese children. DISCUSSION: The lack of pharmacokinetic studies in obese children is pronounced. The scarcity of pharmacokinetic data limits the ability to predict drug disposition using drug physicochemical properties and impedes a rational approach to selection of appropriate body size measures for dosing. Given this knowledge gap, additional trials in obese children are urgently needed and is a public health concern. CONCLUSION: Pharmacokinetic studies of antimicrobials in obese children are desperately needed to guide dosing and avoid therapeutic failures or unwanted toxicities.

Duke Scholars

Altmetric Attention Stats
Dimensions Citation Stats

Published In

GaBI J

DOI

ISSN

2033-6403

Publication Date

2013

Volume

2

Issue

2

Start / End Page

76 / 81

Location

Belgium
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Sampson, M., Cohen-Wolkowiez, M., Benjamin, D., Capparelli, E., & Watt, K. (2013). Pharmacokinetics of Antimicrobials in Obese Children. GaBI J, 2(2), 76–81. https://doi.org/10.5639/gabij.2013.0202.025
Sampson, Mr, M. Cohen-Wolkowiez, Dk Benjamin, Ev Capparelli, and Km Watt. “Pharmacokinetics of Antimicrobials in Obese Children.GaBI J 2, no. 2 (2013): 76–81. https://doi.org/10.5639/gabij.2013.0202.025.
Sampson M, Cohen-Wolkowiez M, Benjamin D, Capparelli E, Watt K. Pharmacokinetics of Antimicrobials in Obese Children. GaBI J. 2013;2(2):76–81.
Sampson, Mr, et al. “Pharmacokinetics of Antimicrobials in Obese Children.GaBI J, vol. 2, no. 2, 2013, pp. 76–81. Pubmed, doi:10.5639/gabij.2013.0202.025.
Sampson M, Cohen-Wolkowiez M, Benjamin D, Capparelli E, Watt K. Pharmacokinetics of Antimicrobials in Obese Children. GaBI J. 2013;2(2):76–81.

Published In

GaBI J

DOI

ISSN

2033-6403

Publication Date

2013

Volume

2

Issue

2

Start / End Page

76 / 81

Location

Belgium