Population pharmacokinetics and target attainment analysis of vancomycin after intermittent dosing in adults with cystic fibrosis

Vancomycin is the first-line agent to treat pulmonary infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in people with cystic fibrosis (PwCF). However, there is no consensus on vancomycin initial dosing in this population among health institutions, and there is a large variability in initial dosing across the United States. In this study, we characterized the pharmacokinetics (PK) of vancomycin in PwCF using a population PK approach. The clinical PK data to develop the population PK model were obtained from vancomycin therapeutic monitoring data from PwCF undergoing treatment for infections due to MRSA. The population PK model was then used to perform comprehensive Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate the probability of target attainment (PTA) of 12 different initial dosing scenarios. The area under the curve to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ratio >= 400 mg*h/L and <650 mg*h/L were used as efficacy and toxicity targets for PTA analysis. A total of 181 vancomycin plasma concentrations were included in the analysis. A one-compartment model with first-order elimination best described the data. Weight significantly influenced the vancomycin PK (P < 0.05). In the final model, clearance was estimated as 5.52 L/h/70 kg, and the volume of distribution was 31.5 L/70 kg. The PTA analysis showed that at MIC = 1 mu g/mL, doses 1,500 q8h and 2,000 q12h showed the highest %PTA in achieving both efficacy and toxicity targets. The PTA results from this study may potentially inform the initial dosing regimens of vancomycin to treat pulmonary infections due to MRSA in PwCF.