Simple and sensitive method for quantification of low tobramycin concentrations in human plasma using HPLC–MS/MS

After oral administration of tobramycin, as part of selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) in critically ill patients, absorption of tobramycin from the gut into the blood may take place. To quantify low concentrations of tobramycin in human plasma, we developed and validated a simple (sample pre-treatment consisting of protein precipitation with acetonitrile using 200 μl plasma), rapid (runtime 3 min using a Pathfinder MR reversed-phase column) and sensitive (concentration range of 0.05–1.0 mg/l using MS/MS detection) method.