Development of a microcomputer program for predicting gentamicin dosage regimens and serum levels by pharmacokinetic calculations

Abstract

A microcomputer program has been developed to provide assistance to clinicians in dosing and monitoring of gentamicin therapy by pharmacokinetic approach in order to achieve maximal clinical effect and minimal toxicity. Written for the IEM Personal Computer (IEM-PC) compatible with 640 K memory, one-disk drive, and a dot matrix printer, this software is user-oriented and simple to operate. Major sections provide evaluation of an existing dosage regimen and determination of a new regimen including predictions of the corresponding steady-state peak and trough levels. Calculations are based on a one-compartment open pharmacokinetic model with first-order elimination and drug administration by multiple intermittent intravenous infusions at fixed intervals according to the Sawchuk-Zaske method. In addition to its dosing information, the program provides other recommendation about appropriate blood sampling times for creatinine and gentamicin levels. Moreover, this software enables the user to print consult sheets consist of all patient data together with dosage recommendation and recommended blood sampling times. The program also provides extensive disk storage capabilities for patient files, with immediate access to facilitate updating and dosing regimen changes as they occur.