OTOTOXICITY OF GENTAMICIN - CLINICAL EXPERIENCE IN A CHILDREN HOSPITAL

In an effort to estimate the incidence of clinical ototoxicity in children the authors reviewed the charts of 374 patients who had serum gentamicin concentration determined 30 min before ('trough value') and at the pharmacologic peak after parenteral administration. 37 of these patients, between 9 and 17 years of age, had two or more audiograms; of these, 9 developed objective evidence of hearing loss; in 2 the impairment was severe and permanent. Risk factors associated with ototoxicity were renal failure, concomitant administration of diuretics and peak serum concentrations greater than 12 mug/ml (all significant at p<0.01). The maximum incidence of overt hearing loss secondary to gentamicin therapy is approximately 2.4%.