Pharmacological properties : תכונות פרמקולוגיות

Pharmacodynamic Properties

5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties

ATC code: J01G B06
Amikacin is a semi-synthetic aminoglycoside antibiotic derived from Kanamycin A. It is active against a broad spectrum of Gram-negative organisms, including pseudomonas, Escherichia coli and some Gram-positive organisms, e.g. Staphylococcus aureus.

Aminoglycoside antibiotics are bactericidal in action. Although the exact mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated, the drugs appear to inhibit protein synthesis in susceptible bacteria by irreversibly binding to 30S ribosomal subunits.

Pharmacokinetic Properties

5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties

Twenty per cent or less is bound to serum protein and serum concentrations remain in the bactericidal range for sensitive organisms for 10 to 12 hours.

Single doses of 500 mg administered as an intravenous infusion over a period of 30 minutes produce a mean peak serum concentration of 38 μg/ml. Repeated infusions do not produce drug accumulation in adults with normal renal function. However, decreased renal function will lead to accumulation.

In adults with normal renal function the plasma elimination half-life of amikacin is usually 2-3 hours. 94 - 98% of a single IV dose of amikacin is excreted unchanged by glomerular filtration within 24 hours.

Amikacin diffuses readily through extracellular fluids and is excreted in the urine unchanged, primarily by glomerular filtration. It has been found in pleural fluid, amniotic fluid and in the peritoneal cavity following parenteral administration.

Data from multiple daily dose trials show that spinal fluid levels in normal infants are approximately 10 to 20% of the serum concentrations and may reach 50% in meningitis.

Intravenous administration
In neonates and particularly in premature babies, the renal elimination of amikacin is reduced.

In a single study in newborns (1-6 days of post-natal age) grouped according to birth weights (<2000, 2000-3000 and >3000g). Amikacin was administered intramuscularly and/or intravenously at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg. Clearance in neonates >3000 g was 0.84 ml/min/kg and terminal half-life was about 7 hours. In this group, the initial volume of distribution and volume of distribution at steady state was 0.3 ml/kg and 0.5 mg/kg, respectively. In the groups with lower birth weight clearance/kg was lower and half-life longer. Repeated dosing every 12 hours in all the above groups did not demonstrate accumulation after 5 days.