Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
prospective randomized study
Participants
26 patients with cystic fibrosis and pulmonary exacerbations
Interventions
aminoglycosides (tobramycin or netilmicin) administered once daily (21 episodes, 5 with netilmicin, 16 with tobramycin) and thrice daily (23 episodes, 2 with netilmicin, 21 with tobramycin), respectively. In addition, the patients received an anti-pseudomonal beta-lactam antibiotic. In the single-dose group the total daily dosage was 4.97 +/- 1.12 mg/kg (total dosage per exacerbation: 74.55 mg/kg), compared to 9.60 +/- 2.70 mg/kg in the triple-dose group (total dosage per exacerbation: 165.12 mg/kg).
Outcome measures
serum levels of the aminoglycoside, leucocyte counts, CRP-values, number of days in hospital and interval until next admission to hospital
Main results
The mean peak and trough serum levels of the aminoglycoside were 8.31 +/- 1.76 mg/l and 0.18 +/- 0.10 mg/l, respectively in the single dose group compared to 6.12 +/- 1.30 mg/l and 0.58 +/- 0.31 mg/l in the triple dose group. Success of treatment, defined as decrease in leucocyte counts, normalization of elevated CRP-values, number of days in hospital and interval until next admission to hospital, was not different between both groups
Authors' conclusions
single daily dose of aminoglycosides was as efficacious as triple dose in our patients.