Teicoplanin dosing in obese patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Optimising the dosing of Teicoplanin in obese patients
IRAS ID
331324
Contact name
Christopher Darlow
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Liverpool
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
Teicoplanin is an injectable antibiotic widely used in Liverpool to treat a variety of serious infections such as sepsis, skin and soft tissue infections, and infections of artificial joints such as knee replacements. It is an important and safe antibiotic that kills problematic bacteria such as MRSA. It can be given once a day which means patients do not have to stay in hospital to receive treatment.
Individuals process teicoplanin in different ways such that from the same dose the amount of effective drug in the blood can be different. We therefore monitor the amount of teicoplanin in the blood a few days into treatment to make sure there are high enough levels for the antibiotic to work effectively, and based on this we can adjust the dose. However, dosing is difficult in obese patients, and the amount in the blood is frequently incorrect, requiring late dose adjustments.
Data on the dosing of teicoplanin, measured teicoplanin levels in the blood and relevant anonymised physiological/demographic data will be collected as part of a registered service evaluation audit of routine care at the Royal Liverpool Hospital, with NHS clinical governance oversight. We intend to transfer the anonymised data from this audit to the University where researchers can use computer modelling techniques to analyse the data with the aim of producing a computer model that predicts the likely effective doses of teicoplanin needed initially in obese patients, for a planned future follow-up trial of these doses.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 2
REC reference
23/ES/0034
Date of REC Opinion
22 Sep 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion