A recent pilot study conducted at The Indus Hospital, Karachi, has revealed that continuous infusion (CI) of vancomycin achieves therapeutic levels faster, results in less kidney toxicity, and may reduce treatment costs compared to the conventional intermittent infusion (II) method in hospitalized patients with MRSA infections. The research, titled “Analyzing the Pharmacokinetic Difference of Vancomycin 24‑hour Infusion versus Conventional Infusion in Hospitalized Patients: A Pilot Study,” was authored by Sheikh Muhammad Saad, Muhammad Hamid Hanif, Arif Ali Arain, Aslam Shah, and Abdul Manan from the Department of Pharmacy Services, along with Samreen Sarfaraz from the Department of Infectious Diseases. It was published in the International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology (IJISRT), Volume 10, Issue 9, September 2025.

The study compared pharmacokinetic outcomes, renal safety, and cost-effectiveness of vancomycin administered via continuous versus intermittent infusion in patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Among 44 participants (22 in each group), those receiving continuous infusion reached therapeutic AUC (400–600 mcg·hr/mL) nearly twice as fast as the intermittent group (1.6 days vs. 3.3 days). Additionally, CI patients demonstrated significantly smaller increases in serum creatinine levels (0.05 mg/dL vs. 0.41 mg/dL), suggesting lower nephrotoxicity risk. At 48 hours, 81.8% of CI patients achieved target therapeutic levels compared to 50% in the II group. Although the cost difference was not statistically significant, continuous infusion showed modest savings through reduced laboratory monitoring and overall treatment expenses.

The authors recommend that hospitals consider adopting continuous infusion protocols, particularly for patients at risk of nephrotoxicity, while emphasizing the central role of clinical pharmacists in therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) to ensure optimal dosing. They also highlight the potential value of CI in resource-limited healthcare settings, where reduced monitoring and lower costs can offer operational advantages.

The study underscores the need for larger, randomized controlled trials to validate these preliminary findings. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes, infection clearance rates, mortality, and economic impact, including indirect costs such as hospital stay duration. The authors also call for comparative studies in pediatric and critically ill populations to assess the broader applicability of CI protocols.

This study provides promising early evidence that continuous infusion of vancomycin can be a safer, faster, and more efficient approach to treating MRSA infections. While further investigation is needed before updating clinical practice guidelines, these findings mark a significant step toward optimizing antibiotic therapy and improving patient safety in hospital settings.

Published in: International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology (IJISRT), Vol. 10, Issue 9, September 2025
Authors: Sheikh Muhammad Saad; Muhammad Hamid Hanif; Arif Ali Arain; Aslam Shah; Abdul Manan (Department of Pharmacy Services); Samreen Sarfaraz (Department of Infectious Diseases), The Indus Hospital, Karachi.