[Clinical efficacy, nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity of amikacin]

Abstract

The clinical efficacy and toleration of amikacin was investigated in 22 patients most of whom had chronic urinary tract infections that had already been treated unsuccessfully on several occasions with other antibiotics. Amikacin was administered i.m. in a dosage of 7.5 mg per kg twice daily for an average of 11.4 days. This new aminoglycoside antibiotic proved highly effective in the treatment of chronic pyelonephritis and cystitis, as well as in septicaemia caused by gentamicin-resistant Pseudomonas. The pharmacokinetic studies did not show any retention after a ten day treatment with amikacin. Thorough nephrologic and otologic investigations for side-effects did not show any permanent nephrotoxic or ototoxic damage or delayed damage. The results were compared with the clinical and experimental data in the literature and with the results of experimental studies which have not yet been published.