Kanamycin and Gentamicin Dosage in Newborn Infants
R. J. H.
An abstract, in the August issue of PIR (1:61, 1979) was entitled Kanamycin and Gentamicin, and yet the dosage schedule was only for kanamycin. The point of the abstract was to indicate that the aminoglycosides can be given safely and effectively by the intravenous route to newborn infants, but should not be given by "push" infusion since this may result in peak serum concentrations, which may result in respiratory depression. What was unclear is that the dose of gentamicin should be lower than that of kanamycin. It should have been made clear that in the newborn the dose of gentamicin is 5 mg/kg/24 hr divided into two doses.
After 7 days of age the dose is 7.5 mg/kg/24 hr divided into three doses every eight hours. The dose given for kanamycin is correct, and is about 3 times what the dose of gentamicin is for the newborn.
