Relation between pharmacokinetics of amikacin sulfate and sepsis score in clinically normal and hospitalized neonatal foals

Pharmacokinetic values after IV administration of amikacin sulfate were determined for clinically normal and hospitalized foals during the first week of life. The relations between drug disposition and sepsis score and serum creatinine concentration also were studied. In clinically normal foals, differences in sepsis score, serum creatinine concentration, and pharmacokinetic variables of amikacin were not found between foals 1 to 3 and 4 to 7 days old. In hospitalized foals, sepsis score, serum creatinine concentration, area under the curve, area under the moment curve, and mean residence time were greater, and total clearance was decreased, compared with values in clinically normal foals. Sepsis score and serum creatinine concentration were inversely correlated to amikacin clearance and appeared to be useful indicators of altered drug disposition.