Background The area under the concentration‐time curve over 24 hours (AUC24) is frequently utilized to monitor tobramycin exposure in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). An understanding of exposure target achievement during clinical implementation of an AUC24 based approach in children is limited. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed in children with CF treated with once daily tobramycin and drug concentration monitoring at a pediatric CF center. During clinical care AUC24 was estimated using a traditional log‐linear regression approach (LLR). AUC24 was also estimated retrospectively using a pharmacokinetic model‐based Bayesian forecasting approach (BF). AUC24 achievement after both approaches were compared. Results In 77 treatment courses (mean age, 12.7 ± 5.0 years), a target AUC24 100 to 125 mg h/L was achieved after starting dose in 21 (27%) and after initial dose adjustment in 35 (45%). In the first 7 days of treatment, 24 (32%) required ≥3 dose adjustments, and the mean number of drug concentrations measured was 7.1 ± 3.2. Examination of a BF approach demonstrated adequate prediction of measured tobramycin concentrations (median bias −2.1% [95% CI −3.1 to −1.4]; median precision 7.6% [95% CI, 7.1%‐8.2%]). AUC24 estimates utilizing the BF approach were higher than the LLR approach with a mean difference of 6.4 mg h/L (95% CI, 4.8 to 8.0 mg h/L). Conclusions Achievement of a narrow AUC24 target is challenging during clinical care, and dose individualization is needed in most children with CF. Implementing a BF approach for estimating AUC24 in children with CF is supported.

BackgroundVancomycin is commonly used to treat acute pulmonary exacerbations in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and a history of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Optimizing vancomycin exposure during therapy is essential and area under‐the‐curve (AUC)‐guided dosing is now recommended. Model‐informed precision dosing (MIPD) utilizing Bayesian forecasting is a powerful approach that can support AUC‐guided dose individualization. The objective of the current study was to examine the impact of implementing an AUC‐guided dose individualization approach supported via a MIPD clinical decision support (CDS) tool on vancomycin exposure, target attainment rate, and safety in pediatric patients with CF treated with vancomycin during clinical care.MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed in patients with CF at a single children's hospital comparing pre‐ and post‐implementation of a MIPD approach for vancomycin supported by a cloud‐based, CDS tool integrated into the electronic health record (EHR). In the pre‐MIPD period, vancomycin starting doses of 60 mg/kg/day (<13 years) or 45 mg/kg/day (≥13 years) were used. Dose adjustment was guided by therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) with a target trough 10–20 mg/L. In the post‐MIPD period, starting dose and dose adjustment were based on the MIPD CDS tool predictions with a target 24 h AUC (AUC24) 400–600 mg*h/L. Exposure and target achievement rates were retrospectively calculated and compared. Rates of acute kidney injury (AKI) were also compared.ResultsOverall, 23 patient courses were included in the pre‐MIPD period and 21 patient courses in the post‐MIPD period. In the post‐MIPD period, an individualized MIPD starting dose resulted in 71% of patients achieving target AUC24 compared to 39% in the pre‐MIPD period (p < 0.05). After the first TDM and dose adjustment, target AUC24 achievement was also higher post‐MIPD versus pre‐MIPD (86% vs. 57%; p < 0.05). AKI rates were low and similar between periods (pre‐MIPD 8.7% vs. post‐MIPD 9.5%; p = 0.9).ConclusionAn MIPD approach implemented within a cloud‐based, EHR‐integrated CDS tool safely supported vancomycin AUC‐guided dosing and resulted in high rates of target achievement.