Objective: We have used therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) analysis software to set the initial dose of vancomycin in our hospital.  In contrast, the TDM guideline, in which the initial dose of vancomycin per body weight was set, was published in 2012.  We looked forward with utilizing the TDM guideline in the clinical setting, after which we conducted multiple surveys to determine the important points of the TDM guideline.
Methods: We surveyed patients treated with vancomycin, in whom the initial dose was set using the TDM analysis software and the concordance rate between the vancomycin dose set with the software and that set with the TDM guideline.
Results: The concordance rate of vancomycin dose was 42.1%.  The mean age of the high-dose group (vancomycin dose higher than that recommended by the TDM guideline), was younger than that of the recommended-dose group.  Additionally, the mean body weight of the high-dose group was significantly lower than that of the recommended-dose group.  The corrected creatinine clearance of the low-dose group was significantly lower than that of the recommended-dose group.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that when the initial dose is set after referring the TDM guideline in patients who are not very high age, and having low body weight and decreased renal function, the dose may differ from the dose set by using TDM analysis software.  In addition, since the recommended dose per body weight is a range and not a single value, setting the dose appropriate to target trough concentration is necessary.