title: Colistin treatment in patients with ICU-acquired infections caused by multiresistant Gram-negative bacteria: the renaissance of an old antibiotic.
abstract: A retrospective case series study was performed in a 30-bed general intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care hospital to assess the effectiveness and safety of colistin in 43 critically ill patients with ICU-acquired infections caused by multiresistant Gram-negative bacteria. Various ICU-acquired infections, mainly pneumonia and bacteraemia caused by multiresistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and/or Acinetobacter baumannii, were treated with colistin. Good clinical response (cure or improvement) was noted in 74.4% of patients. Deterioration of renal function occurred in 18.6% of patients during colistin therapy. Nephrotoxicity was elevated significantly in those patients with a history of renal failure (62.5%). All-cause mortality amounted to 27.9%. In this group of critically ill patients, an age of >50 years (OR, 5.4; 95% CI 1.3-24.9) and acute renal failure (OR, 8.2; 95% CI 2.9-23.8) were independent predictors of mortality. Colistin should be considered as a treatment option in critically ill patients with infection caused by multiresistant Gram-negative bacilli.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Henry Dunant Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Michalopoulos
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsiodras
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rellos
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mentzelopoulos
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Falagas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003091:Colistin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003091:Colistin