title: Safety and Efficacy of Intravenous Colistin in Neonates With Culture Proven Sepsis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although it is well described among adults, intravenous colistin use and its associated toxicities in newborns are poorly understood.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We present our experience of efficacy and safety of intravenous colistin in the treatment of sepsis in term and preterm neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of neonates who received colistin between January 2013 and February 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. All neonates with culture proven nosocomial infections due to multidrug resistant organisms and treated continuously with colistin for more than 72 hours were included in the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were evaluated for clinical and microbiological response to the drug and its and side effects. Twelve newborn infants with mean 31.8 ± 3.5 weeks gestational age and median 1482 (810 - 3200) gram birth weight were included. 11/12 (91.7%) patients showed microbiological clearance with intravenous colistin. One patient who had recurrent cerebrospinal fluid positive culture was treated with intraventricular colistin. The major side effects observed was hyponatremia and hypokalemia in 2 (16.6%) patients, all infants required magnesium supplementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravenous colistin administration appears to be safe and efficacious for multidrug-resistant gram-negative infections in neonates, including preterm infants. However, we believe that large prospective controlled studies are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety in neonates.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kadir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Serafettin Tekgunduz
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Caner
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yasar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Demirelli
keywords: Colistin; Infection; Multidrug Resistance; Neonate; Preterm Infant; Sepsis