International Journal of Environmental and Biological Sciences Articles Publishing terms and rules Vol. 1 No. 3 (2026): Third Issue - July 2026 2026-07-31

Vancomycin in Renal Dialysis Patients: Achievement of Therapeutic Concentration and Prevention of Toxicity Vancomycin and Renal Dialysis Patients

  • Fatima Y. Mohammed
  • Maisaa Y. Mohamed

01Abstract

Background: Vancomycin is used in hemodialysis patients to treat infection with Staphylococcus aureus. Serum concentration below therapeutic level might encourage bacterial resistance and treatment failure. Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the effect of successive dialysis sessions on the level of vancomycin in the blood serum and to evaluate the safety of the treatment in patients with chronic kidney failure. Methodology: Twenty-four patients receiving different vancomycin dosage regimens were included. Patients attending Renal Dialysis Center at Basrah General Hospital (Basrah, Iraq) and receiving vancomycin were recruited for this study. Vancomycin concentration was measured, using fluorescence polarization immunoassay technique, in three consecutive dialysis sessions, and immediately prior to the fourth one. Serum creatinine and absolute


neutrophil count was measured prior to treatment and after completing vancomycin doses through therapeutic drug monitoring. Results: Trough vancomycin blood concentration in eleven patients receiving 500mg vancomycin during the last half hour of hemodialysis session twice, thrice weekly or when combined together, did not reach the lower recommended concentration of 15 µg/ml in 90.5 %, 78.9% and 85% of the samples respectively. There were trends toward higher concentration with increasing BMI and with creatinine clearance of <10 mL/min. An extra three patients received one gram loading dose in the first session followed by 500 mg in the next sessions, trough serum concentrations below 15 µg/ml were found in 50% of measured samples. No red man syndrome, neutropenia or ototoxicity was reported by these patients. Conclusions: According to the study results, the current study concluded that administering 500 mg of vancomycin two or three times a week was not sufficient to achieve the minimum recommended concentration for most patients, suggesting that it may be necessary to adjust the dose along with monitoring the therapeutic drug.

Keywords Chronic renal failure Hemodialysis Trough concentration Vancomycin

02Authors

Fatima Y. Mohammed
Clinical Pharmacist, Basra Health Directorate, Heart Diseases Hospital, Basra, Iraq
Maisaa Y. Mohamed
Consultant Community Physician, Public Health Department, Basrah Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Basrah, Iraq

03Article Details

Section
Articles Publishing terms and rules
Pages
122-136
Published
2026-07-31

How to Cite

Vancomycin in Renal Dialysis Patients: Achievement of Therapeutic Concentration and Prevention of Toxicity: Vancomycin and Renal Dialysis Patients. (2026). International Journal of Environmental and Biological Sciences, 1(3), 122-136. https://doi.org/10.63939/wq024z21

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