Background: Procalcitonin (PCT) may be used to monitor infection and guide antibiotic therapy (1). However its usefulness in neonates is hampered due to changes following birth and events such as surgery. Methods: PCT concentrations measured in 282 non-infected pre-term and term neonates (22 and 41 weeks gestation) were provided for analysis (2). A turnover model was […]
Author: Jacqueline Hannam
Future work in Auckland: procalcitonin in healthy and infected neonates to inform PKPD disease progression modelling
Appropriate antimicrobial therapy in neonates and babies is complicated by pharmacokinetic (PK) changes with age, body size and disease. Additionally we lack pharmacodynamic (PD) measures to gauge patient response. A correlation exists between elevated concentrations of procalcitonin (PCT) and infection +/- sepsis butmultiple other factors also contribute to PCT fluctuations (1, 2). For example, PCT […]
Paracetamol and diclofenac additive effects after tonsillectomy
Background: Paracetamol combined with diclofenac is commonly used to control postoperative pain in children. Diclofenac pharmacokinetics, and paracetamol pharmacokinetics (PK) and dynamics (PD) (analgesia) have been described with these drugs used separately (1, 2). A model for the combination of paracetamol with diclofenac would be useful for improving analgesia in children. Methods: A randomised, placebo […]