title: Intravenous colistin sulfate: a rarely used form of polymyxin E for the treatment of severe multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections.
abstract: In recent reports polymyxins have been considered an effective and safe treatment option for the management of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacterial infections. Here we report our clinical experience with the use of intravenous colistin sulfate in critically ill patients hospitalized from January 2006 to October 2008, as a last treatment resort in China, and assess its effectiveness and adverse effects. Fifteen patients who suffered from severe infections caused by MDR or pandrug-resistant (PDR) Gram-negative bacteria (13 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii, 4 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 2 isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae), unresponsive to the initial empirical regimens, were treated with colistin sulfate (daily dose of 1.28 +/- 0.25 million IU and duration of 22.3 +/- 6.2 days), based on sensitivity results. The treatment resulted in a good clinical response in 73.3%, microbiological clearance in 60% and mortality in 20%. Possible nephrotoxicity occurred in 1 patient and no patients developed neurotoxicity. In conclusion, intravenous colistin sulfate is a safe and viable alternative for the treatment of severe infections due to sensitive MDR Gram-negative bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yao-Qing
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jing-Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D002681:China; D003091:Colistin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016638:Critical Illness; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003091:Colistin