Amikacin pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic in intensive care unit: a prospective database

Abstract

Background

Aminoglycosides have a concentration-dependent therapeutic effect when peak serum concentration (C_max) reaches eight to tenfold the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). With an amikacin MIC of 8 mg/L, the C_max should be 64–80 mg/L. This objective is based on clinical breakpoints and not on measured MIC. This study aimed to assess the proportion of patients achieving the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) target C_max/MIC ≥ 8 using the measured MIC in critically ill patients treated for documented Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) infections.

Methods

Retrospective analysis from February 2016 to December 2017 of a prospective database conducted in 2 intensive care units (ICU). All patients with documented severe GNB infections treated with amikacin (single daily dose of 25 mg/kg of total body weight (TBW)) with both MIC and C_max measurements at first day of treatment (D1) were included. Results are expressed in n (%) or median [min–max].

Results

93 patients with 98 GNB-documented infections were included. The median C_max was 55.2 mg/L [12.2–165.7] and the median MIC was 2 mg/L [0.19–16]. C_max/MIC ratio ≥ 8 was achieved in 87 patients (88.8%) while a C_max ≥ 64 mg/L was achieved in only 38 patients (38.7%). Overall probability of PK/PD target attainment was 93%. No correlation was found between C_max/MIC ratio and clinical outcome at D8 and D28.

Conclusion

According to PK/PD parameters observed in our study, single daily dose of amikacin 25 mg/kg of TBW appears to be sufficient in most critically ill patients treated for severe GNB infections.

Key points

• A single daily dose of amikacin (25 mg/kg of TBW) appears to be sufficient in most critically ill patients treated for severe GNB infections.

• An exclusive focus on C_max without MIC measurement is probably not suitable for a reliable pharmacodynamic assessment of amikacin therapy.

Background

Management of severe infections in intensive care unit (ICU) represent a major challenge for clinicians, and prompt initiation of effective antibiotic therapy is essential to improve patient’s survival [1, 2]. In patients with septic shock, guidelines recommend combination antimicrobial therapy with aminoglycosides, particularly when Gram-negative bacilli (GNBs) are suspected or documented [2].

Optimal anti-GNB activity of amikacin is achieved when peak serum concentration (C_max) reach eight to tenfold the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) [3]. With an amikacin MIC as high as 8 mg/L (beyond which the bacteria have intermediate susceptibility based on clinical breakpoints defined by EUCAST), the target C_max should therefore be 64–80 mg/L as recommended by French guidelines on aminoglycosides use [4, 5].

Previously published data with single daily dose of 15 to 25 mg/kg of amikacin pointed out that this target of C_max ≥ 64 mg/L was not reached for most patients [6,7,8]. Thus, in order to optimize the C_max/MIC ratio, it is suggested to increase amikacin loading dose up to 30 mg/kg/day of total body weight (TBW) for severe patients [5].

However, in most clinical studies and in daily practice, the pharmacological efficacy of amikacin is only assessed by C_max measurements (objective of C_max ≥ 64 mg/L based on clinical breakpoints) and not by measured MICs.

To our knowledge, few studies have reported the antibacterial effect of amikacin based on C_max/MIC ratio using measured MIC for each patient profile.

We therefore undertook a retrospective analysis of our prospective database to assess pharmacodynamic target attainment (C_max/MIC ≥ 8)—considering amikacin measured MICs—in critically ill patients empirically treated for documented severe GNB infections.

Methods

Study design, settings and patients

We performed a retrospective analysis from February 2016 to December 2017 of a prospective observational database conducted in 2 ICUs.

The ANSM (French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety) registration number of the study is 2017-A01083-50. French Data Protection Agency declaration of the database was done. The local hospital ethics Committee was consulted and did not indicate the need for a formal approval, according to French law [9].

ICU patients who met the following criteria were included: (i) empirical combination treatment including amikacin for sepsis or septic shock (as defined by the 3rd Surviving Sepsis Campaign) [2], with a diagnosis made according to CDC infections classifications [10]; (ii) amikacin administered according to the standardized protocol of both ICUs (described below) and following microbiological sample for pathogen identification and (iv) documented GNB infection with amikacin MIC measurement available.

Patients with the following criteria were excluded: (i) death within 48 h after amikacin administration; (ii) no GNB documented in microbiological sample; (iii) incorrect amikacin regimen; (iv) resistance to amikacin on antibiogram; (v) no MIC measurement available.

Protocol

Patients were receiving empiric antibiotic therapy with amikacin in combination with one (or more) other antimicrobial agents, whose choice was left to the discretion of clinicians.

Amikacin was administered according to the standardized protocol of both ICUs (in place since 2015): recommended single daily dose of 25 mg/kg of TBW (weight of the day, using a weighing bed), diluted in 50 mL NaCl 0.9% and continuously infused (electric syringe) over 30 min.

The duration of treatment with amikacin was left to the discretion of clinicians.

According to the standardized protocol, peak amikacin concentration was measured 30 min after the end of infusion (C_max) and trough serum concentration 24 h after the end of infusion and before the next injection of amikacin, if necessary (C_min).

Reinjection was not recommended if C_min was beyond 2.5 mg/L, according to national guidelines [5].

When GNB was identified, clinicians could ask the microbiology laboratory of each hospital to perform amikacin MIC measurement for patients who received amikacin. Measurement was performed using a diffusion technique in an agar medium (Etest strips) for each strain according to the manufacturer’s instructions (bioMérieux laboratory, Marcy l’étoile, France). The toxicology laboratory performed amikacin serum concentrations measurements as a routine procedure available 24 h a day, 7 days a week, using a fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) [11].

Objectives of the study and endpoints

The main objective of the study was to determine the proportion of patients achieving a C_max/MIC ratio ≥ 8, using both MIC and C_max measurements at first day of treatment.

In case of a polymicrobial infection, the highest amikacin MIC among identified GNBs was considered.

The secondary objectives were to describe amikacin pharmacological parameters; to determine the overall probability of pharmacodynamic target attainment in patients treated with a 25 mg/kg daily dose of amikacin, taking into account the distribution of C_max and MIC; to identify covariables of amikacin C_max in critically ill patients. We also evaluated the impact of amikacin pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) parameters on clinical outcome. Poor clinical outcome was defined as a composite criteria: SOFA score > 3 or death at D8.

Data collection

D1 was defined as the first day of amikacin administration (calendar day).

For all patients enrolled, demographic data, Simplified Acute Physiology score (SAPS 2) [12], SOFA score (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) [13], reason for ICU admission, type of infection, and clinical and biological parameters were retrospectively collected on D1 and D8.

Daily fluid intake on D1, vasopressor support, duration of mechanical ventilation, use of renal replacement therapy (RRT), of Optiflow^® or ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) were noted, if applicable.

Patient vital status was assessed on D8 and D28.

Statistical analysis

Variables were expressed as numbers (percentages) and medians [minimal–maximal].

Patients or infections were compared according to different pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters (C_max, C_max/MIC ratio) on D1, and for the clinical outcome evaluated on D8 and D28. A non-parametric test was used to compare the continuous variables (Mann–Whitney test), and an appropriate test was used to compare the categorical variables (Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test).

Variables associated with C_max ≥ 64 mg/L in univariate analysis were included in a multivariate analysis using stepwise logistic regression.

A p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The overall probability of pharmacodynamic target C_max/MIC ratio ≥ 8 was calculated by adding the individual probabilities for each observed MIC value, taking into account the frequency of observation of each MIC and the observed C_max distribution.

The statistical analyses were performed using R software (Team RC) and JMP 14.1 (SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC, USA http://www.R-projectorg/).

Results

Patients characteristics

From February 2016 to December 2017, 93 patients with 98 GNB infections were eligible (Fig. 1). Patients characteristics at admission are reported in Table 1.

Fig. 1

Flowchart of the study

Table 1 Patients and infections characteristics on admission and on D1

The clinical characteristics of patients and infections on D1 are reported in Table 1.

A β-lactam (4th generation cephalosporin or piperacillin–tazobactam in 49% and carbapenem in 32.6% of infections) was used in combination with amikacin in 97 infections (99%). Empiric antibiotic therapy was active against the pathogen(s) in 87 infections (89%) among which amikacin was the only active antibiotic in only 5 (5.1%) infections.

Amikacin median MIC for all GNBs identified in our study was 2 mg/L [0.19–16] and the median MIC of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 3 mg/L [1–8]. Two infections involved bacteria with amikacin MIC of 12 mg/L and 16 mg/L, respectively (intermediate susceptibility according to EUCAST).

MICs distribution of amikacin is available in (Additional file 1: Fig. S1).

Primary outcome

The C_max/MIC ratio, calculated for each infectious episodes on D1, was above or equal to 8 in 87 infectious episodes (88.8%) (Table 2). Excluding the two infections involving GNB with intermediate susceptibility according to EUCAST, which usually discourage amikacin prescription, a C_max/CMI ratio ≥ 8 was achieved in 91% of treated infections.

Table 2 Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters observed

Secondary outcomes

Pharmacological parameters

The PK/PD parameters of amikacin are reported in Table 2. The median C_max on D1 was 55.2 mg/L [12.2–165.7]. In 38.8% of infectious episodes, amikacin C_max was ≥ 64 mg/L on D1.

Pharmacodynamic description was also performed including the following criteria: C_max ≥ 80 mg/L and C_max/MIC ratio ≥ 10 (Table 2).

The overall probability of target attainment C_max/MIC ≥ 8, with single daily dose of 25 mg/kg amikacin under the study conditions, according to C_max and MICs distributions, was 93% (Fig. 2). This probability was 89% for a target of C_max/MIC ≥ 10.

Fig. 2

Probability of achieving target C_max/MIC ratio ≥ 8 according to the MIC

GNBs infections treated with a C_max/CMI ratio < 8 versus ≥ 8 were associated with both higher amikacin MICs (8 [4–16] versus 2 mg/L [0.19–8], p < 0.0001) and lower C_max on D1 (34.2 [12.2–77.8] versus 57.6 mg/L [22.3–165.7], p = 0.001) (Additional file 1: Table S1).

C_max covariables

Factors associated with a C_max ≥ 64 mg/L in univariate analysis are reported in Table 3. In multivariate analysis, after adjustment with the SOFA score on D1 and the administered dose, serum creatinine on D1 was the only factor independently associated with a C_max ≥ 64 mg/L (OR = 1.01 [1.00–1.01], p = 0.004).

Table 3 Comparison of patients and treated infections, according to the 1st C_max observed (on D1)

Clinical outcome

The median length of stay in intensive care unit was 16 days [2–123]. Overall mortality at D28 was 24.7% and ICU mortality was 22.6%.

There was no significant differences in mortality and SOFA score on D8 according to the C_max/MIC ratio. Similarly, the clinical outcome of patients on D28 was not different (Table 4).

Table 4 Comparison of patients clinical outcome and treated infections, according to C_max/MIC ratio observed < or ≥ 8 on D1

PK/PD parameters were not different whether the clinical outcome was favorable or poor on D8 (Additional file 1: Table S2), and similarly between patients alive or dead on D28 (Additional file 1: Table S3).

Discussion

In this prospective database performed in critically ill patients with documented GNB infections and receiving a 25 mg/kg single daily dose of amikacin, the overall probability of target attainment C_max/MIC ratio ≥ 8 was 93% according to our C_max and MIC distributions.

These data are not in accordance with previous studies that showed a risk of treatment failure, only based on amikacin C_max measurement (64 to 80 mg/L) or C_max/MIC ratio calculated with clinical breakpoints (8 to 10-fold a 8 mg/L MIC) [7, 8]. Most studies concluded that a 25 mg/kg loading dose of amikacin is insufficient in critically ill patients to achieve these pharmacodynamic targets and therefore endanger treatment efficacy.

However, in our study, although only 38.8% patients only achieved an amikacin C_max ≥ 64 mg/L, more than 90% had a C_max/MIC ratio over the pharmacodynamic target (≥ 8) when susceptible strains were involved.

Amikacin C_max measurements ranged from 12.2 to 165.7 mg/L with a median of 55.2 mg/L. This significant dispersion found in several studies conducted in ICUs is explained by the inter-individual variability of pharmacokinetic parameters in these patients [7, 8, 14,15,16].

Nevertheless, in our study, the median amikacin C_max was much lower than in the literature (summarized in Additional file 1: Table S4). Indeed, three studies performed in critically ill patients and receiving a 25 mg/kg (TBW) loading dose reported a median amikacin C_max around 70 mg/L [7, 8, 14]: De Montmollin et al. showed that 58% of patients enrolled reached an amikacin C_max ≥ 64 mg/L [7] and Taccone et al. reported 70% of patients achieving this target [8].

Patients characteristics in our study and those reported above seem similar especially in terms of severity (estimated by the SOFA score), but there are significant differences in renal function (renal replacement therapy resort and serum creatinine were lower in our patients). These differences are all the more important as serum creatinine is a covariable of the pharmacokinetic of aminosides, which seems decisive for C_max. Indeed, to our knowledge, two studies identified renal function as a major co-variable of amikacin C_max in ICU patients and this may explain the lower amikacin C_max found in our study [14, 17]. We confirm these results because, in multivariate analysis, after adjustment with the SOFA score on D1 and the administered dose, serum creatinine on D1 was the only factor independently associated with a C_max ≥ 64 mg/L (OR = 1.01 [1.00–1.01], p = 0.004).

In any event, it is even more striking to reach about 90% of PK/PD target attainment with these lower amikacin C_max, which seems related to low amikacin MICs.

Amikacin median MICs of all GNBs identified in our study was 2 mg/L [0.19–16] and the median MIC of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was 3 mg/L [1–8]. These results were comparable to amikacin MICs distribution for GNB published by EUCAST and in the literature [18, 19].

Unsurprisingly, in the group of infectious episodes that did not reach the C_max/CMI ratio target, the median MIC of amikacin was higher (8 mg/L [4–16]). But excluding intermediate susceptibility GNBs, a C_max/CMI ratio ≥ 8 was achieved in 91% of treated infections.

Few other studies reported inconsistencies between calculated C_max or C_max/MIC (using clinical breakpoints) and measured C_max/MIC (using measured MICs). A study based on measured MICs (for some patients enrolled), reported a C_max/MIC ratio ≥ 10 in 93% of cases, with a median loading dose of 29.6 mg/kg, while target amikacin C_max was only achieved in 77% of cases [20]. Similarly, Pajot et al. reported that C_max/MIC ratio ≥ 10 was achieved in 87% patients with documented ventilator-associated pneumonia treated with only 20 mg/kg amikacin [18]. Finally, De Winter et al. in an emergency department, in which a cohort of patients with septic shock/severe sepsis received 25 mg/kg amikacin, showed that C_max/MIC ratio ≥ 8 was achieved in 76% of cases when using critical MICs (EUCAST), and in 95% of cases when using measured MICs [21].

These findings suggest that an exclusive focus on target C_max without MIC measurement is probably not suitable to evaluate the pharmacodynamic efficacy of amikacin therapy in clinical studies. Thus, added value of daily practice amikacin pharmacodynamic assessment is also uncertain, as the probability of pharmacodynamic failure to treat susceptible GNBs with a 25 mg/kg amikacin dose is less than 10% when evaluated by the measured C_max/MIC ratio in several different studies.

Nevertheless, when the MIC is above 4 mg/L, the risk of pharmacological failure is higher (around 40%) and clinicians should keep in mind the key role of the MIC, particularly when Pseudomonas aeruginosa is involved. Thus, dose adjustment could be relevant, based on local epidemiology (MICs distribution and/or P. aeruginosa infections incidence).

Increasing AMK loading dose could, however, lead to withhold the subsequent doses, if needed. Indeed, we reported a C_min ≥ 2.5 mg/L—when measured on D2—in 49/82 (60%) of treated infections and Roger et al. found similar results with a 30 mg/kg loading dose (C_min ≥ 2.5 mg/L in 49% of their patients) [20].

No correlation was found between C_max/MIC ratio and clinical outcome on D8 or D28 in our study. Moore et al. and Kashuba et al. demonstrated, 30 years ago, that the clinical benefit of aminoglycosides for the treatment of GNB infections was optimal if C_max reach 8 to tenfold the MIC [3, 22]. But recent studies in ICU patients have failed to demonstrate a potential impact of aminoglycoside pharmacodynamics on clinical outcome [7, 8, 20, 23]. This negative result should be put into perspective with the various variables that may possibly explain mortality in intensive care. The combination with another antibiotic, most often a β-lactam, could also explain the lack of demonstration.

Even so, the median C_max/MIC ratio in our study greatly exceeded the threshold proposed by Moore et al. [3] (23.1 versus 8), but the proportion of pharmacodynamic failure according to the following criteria (C_max/MIC < 8) was low, around 10%, which represents a small cohort for statistical comparisons.

Our study has several limitations. First, it is a retrospective study, based on a prospective database in 2 participating ICUs and in daily practice, BGN-documented infections are not systematically assessed with measured amikacin MIC. Factors that led to measure the MIC could introduce a selection bias, leading to measure the MIC only in the most difficult clinical situations. Nevertheless, the patients evaluated in our study are similar to those evaluated by De Montmollin et al. and Taccone et al. (in term of SAPS II score and mortality), allowing indirect comparison of our data with the literature [7, 8]. Second, we did not assess the incidence of renal toxicity following amikacin administration. However, 64% of infections were treated with single daily dose of amikacin, minimizing the risk of nephrotoxicity. In addition, data from the literature do not report an increase in renal toxicity following the initial dose [24]. Gàlvez et al. also showed that a dose of 30 mg/kg/day amikacin was not associated with a higher incidence of nephrotoxicity than 15 or 25 mg/kg/day regimen [6]. Finally, we studied the pharmacodynamic profile of amikacin during the first 24 h of administration. This is consistent with usual durations of aminoglycoside treatments (48 to 72 h) and with data reported by Kashuba et al. [22] that highlighted the impact of the first aminoglycoside dose on patient’s clinical outcome.

Conclusion

In critically ill patients treated with amikacin for susceptible Gram-negative bacilli infections, a 25 mg/kg (TBW) single daily dose actually achieved pharmacodynamic target in more than 90% of treated infections. Thus, in light of these results, the current trend of amikacin increase dose in the treatment of severe infections does not appear justified when local GNB ecology and amikacin MICs distribution are similar to ours. The relevance of systematic C_max measurement is also questionable or may require MIC measurement as well to ensure a reliable pharmacodynamic target assessment.