Therapeutic drug monitoring of inhaled tobramycin in a patient with chronic kidney disease

Eur J Hosp Pharm. 2024 Dec 30:ejhpharm-2023-004075. doi: 10.1136/ejhpharm-2023-004075. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

This case report investigates elevated serum concentrations of inhaled tobramycin in a patient with chronic kidney disease. The patient, a man in his early 80s with complex comorbidities, underwent tobramycin inhalation therapy for chronic respiratory infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Despite the strategic localised treatment approach, unexpectedly high plasma tobramycin concentrations were observed. After a dosage adjustment guided by a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model, a final inhalation dose of 300 mg of tobramycin was determined at a 24-hour interval. This case report underscores the need for rigorous monitoring of plasma tobramycin levels in patients with renal impairment undergoing inhaled tobramycin therapy, advocating for enhanced pharmacokinetic models to improve the safety and efficacy of the treatment.

Keywords: Case Reports; Drug Monitoring; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Pharmacokinetics; Safety.