Relationship of serum gentamicin levels and methylprednisolone sodium succinate treatment in baboons challenged with Escherichia coli LD100.

Serum gentamicin bioassay determinations were performed on 15 adult baboons that had been challenged with an infusion of live Escherichia coli sufficient to kill all of the individuals (LD100) and then treated with either methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) (administered early in some animals and late in others) and gentamicin sulfate (GS) or with GS only. Initial peak gentamicin levels in all three groups were similar; however, subsequent valley levels revealed that when MPSS treatment was delayed or omitted, gentamicin concentrations remained elevated.