Treatment of nosocomial pneumonia and tracheobronchitis caused by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa with aerosolized colistin

Gram-negative bacilli including multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonos aerug inosa are responsible for a significant proportion of episodes of nosocomia l pneumonia, Since the development of new antibiotics with activity against gram-negative organisms has not kept pace with the increase in prevalence of MDR pathogens, there has been renewed interest in antimicrobial agents t hat had previously been used but had been abandoned because of toxic side e ffects. This report describes three patients with nosocomial pneumonia or t racheobronchitis due to multiresistant strains of P. aeruginoso for whom ae rosolized colistin proved beneficial as supplemental therapy. Aerosolized c olistin merits further consideration as a therapeutic intervention for pati ents with pulmonary infections due to MDR P. aeruginoso.