Frequency and Demographics of Gentamicin Use.

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Kushner B, Allen PD, Crane BT

Frequency and Demographics of Gentamicin Use.

Otol Neurotol. 2016 Feb;37(2):190-5. doi: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000000937.

PubMed ID
26719956 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To understand how aminoglycosides such as gentamicin are used in a tertiary care setting. To familiarize otologists with the demographics and risk factors associated with gentamicin use at major medical centers to allow the possibility of early intervention. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of existing clinical data. SETTING: University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), including all associated hospitals (Strong Memorial Hospital, Highland Hospital, etc.). PATIENTS: All hospital inpatients who were prescribed intravenous gentamicin over a 4-year period starting in February 2011. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Major patient populations receiving gentamicin and the associated diagnoses for which gentamicin was prescribed. RESULTS: A total of 5,257 patients were found to have received gentamicin. Three major populations of patients were found to have received gentamicin: 1) more than half the gentamicin exposures were children and 42% were under 2 years. 2) 18% of the exposures were young adults age 18 to 34 and in this population 88% were woman with most of these hospitalizations pregnancy related. 3) Patients >55 were 19% of the exposures and most of these had serious infections. Disorders associated with patients receiving gentamicin included: perinatal complications (1,564); sepsis (1,399); acute/chronic renal disease (1,287); labor, delivery, or neonatal complications (1,250); diabetes (949); and UTI/pyelonephritis (775). CONCLUSIONS: Gentamicin is still widely used, and the neonatal population and young adult women are at especially high risk for gentamicin-induced ototoxicity. Further data analysis should focus strategies to protect these populations by avoiding unnecessary exposures and by possible concurrent administration of protective medications such as metformin and aspirin.

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