RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Tobramycin and vestibulotoxicity: retrospective analysis of four cases
JF European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy
JO Eur J Hosp Pharm
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP ejhpharm-2020-002588
DO 10.1136/ejhpharm-2020-002588
A1 S E M Vonk
A1 E J M Weersink
A1 C J Majoor
A1 E M Kemper
A1 ,
YR 2021
UL http://ejhp.bmj.com/content/early/2021/03/21/ejhpharm-2020-002588.abstract
AB Over a course of 7 months, four patients developed vestibulotoxicity after treatment with intravenous tobramycin. Since vestibulotoxicity is a serious adverse effect which can be irreversible, an investigation was undertaken to determine if there was a cause for the toxicity and whether the quality of care had been inadequate. In this period, 26 patients with cystic fibrosis were treated with tobramycin according to valid guidelines, of which four experienced acute dizziness which disrupted their daily activities. Two patients experienced irreversible bilateral vestibular hypofunction and two unilateral loss of the right labyrinth, with decreasing dizziness over time. No apparent cause for the vestibulotoxicity was found in these four patients and the simultaneous occurrence was not due to a lack in quality of care. Symptoms of dizziness and balance disorders should be recognised by patients and caretakers at an early stage so additional diagnostics can be done to prevent further deterioration.