Validation of Vancomycin Area under the Concentration-Time Curve Estimation by the Bayesian Approach Using One-Point Samples for Predicting Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections

Area under the concentration-time curve (AUC)-guided vancomycin treatment is associated with decreased nephrotoxicity. It is preferable to obtain two samples to estimate the AUC. This study examined the usefulness of AUC estimation via trough concentration (C-min)-only sampling of 260 adults infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) who received vancomycin. The exact C-min sampling time was used for Bayesian estimation. A significantly higher early treatment response was observed in patients with a day 2 AUC >= 400 mu g center dot h/mL than those with <400 mu g center dot h/mL, and a significantly higher early nephrotoxicity rate was observed in patients with a day 2 AUC >= 600 mu g center dot h/mL than those with <600 mu g center dot h/mL. These AUC cutoff values constituted independent factors for each outcome. In sub-analysis, the discrimination ability for early clinical outcomes using these AUC cutoffs was confirmed only in patients with q12 vancomycin administration. A significant difference in early treatment response using the 400 mu g center dot h/mL cutoff was obtained only in patients with low-risk infections. The usefulness of the vancomycin AUC target to decrease nephrotoxicity while assuring clinical efficacy was even confirmed with a single C-min measurement. However, assessment with two samples might be required in patients with q24 administration or high/moderate-risk MRSA infections.