Clinical nephrotoxicity of tobramycin and gentamicin. A prospective study
G. D. Kumin
Nearly 3.2 million people in this country receive aminoglycoside
antibiotics annually. Gentamicin sulfate and tobramycin sulfate continue to
demonstrate ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity in both animal and clinical
studies. In this study, 62 patients with confirmed initial normal renal
function and treated with 2 to 5 mg/kg/day of gentamicin sulfate or
tobramycin sulfate for a minimum of seven days were followed up
prospectively for the development of aminoglycoside-related renal failure,
defined as at least a one-third reduction in renal function. In these 62
patients, no other causes for renal failure could be identified. Five of 33
(15%) of the tobramycin-treated patients and 16 of 29 (55.2%) of the
gentamicin-treated patients had renal failure. Thus, gentamicin was
associated with renal failure more than three times as often as was
tobramycin.
