USE OF AMINOGLYCOSIDES IN ADULT PATIENTS OF A TERTIARY CARE CENTER

Aminoglycosides (AG) are excellent antibiotics againts gramnegative ba cilli infections, but their use implies potential ototoxicity and neph rotoxicity if an excessive dosage is prescribed. In this study we eval uated 105 episodes of AG treatment in 104 patients hospitalized in a s peciality hospital in the city of Leon, Mexico. In each case a basal s erum creatinine, weight and age were recorded. A single serum AG assay per episode of treatment was done. Either amikacin or gentamicin were one the AG prescribed. Prior to AG administration only 54 treatment e pisodes (51%) had a before treatment creatinine assay. The initial cre atinine clearance showed normal values in 43% (23/54 episodes) and it was altered (below 80 mL/min) in 31 (57%) of the episodes. In the 31 c ases with an altered renal fuction only 15 (48%) underwent dosage adju stment. In sumary the AG were prescribed in excess in 54% (29/54) of t he episodes. The serum AG levels within toxic range were observed in 1 1 episodes. These results suggest that in our hospital AG treatment is not adequately done and monitored.