title: Effectiveness and nephrotoxicity of intravenous colistin for treatment of patients with infections due to polymyxin-only-susceptible (POS) gram-negative bacteria.
abstract: The prospective case series study presented here was conducted to assess the outcome of patients with infections caused by polymyxin-only-susceptible (POS) gram-negative bacteria managed with intravenous colistin. Between July 2003 and April 2005 a total of 27 patients were infected with a POS gram-negative bacterium and received intravenous colistin at a dose of 2 million international units (MIU) (160 mg or 66.7 mg colistin base) every 8 h for a mean (+/-SD) duration of 13.9 (+/-7.5) days. Nine patients had ventilator-associated pneumonia and received, in addition to the intravenous colistin therapy, 1 MIU (80 mg or 33.3 mg colistin base) aerosolized colistin every 12 h for a mean (+/-SD) duration of 13 (+/-6.5) days. The predominant pathogens were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 17) and Acinetobacter baumannii (n = 12); in two patients both pathogens were isolated from one clinical specimen. In-hospital mortality and clinical response were 15% and 85%, respectively. Colistin-associated nephrotoxicity was observed in two of the 27 patients. POS gram-negative pathogens represent a major threat for hospitalized patients. Colistin appears to be an effective and safe treatment, even in patients with severe underlying diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. m.falagas@aibs.gr
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Falagas
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kasiakou
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Kofteridis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roditakis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Samonis
mesh_terms: D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D040981:Acinetobacter baumannii / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003091:Colistin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000188:drug therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003091:Colistin