Abstract
Background: Colistin is an effective treatment option, recommended for carbapenem resistant gram-negative bacilli (CR-GNB) in critically ill patients. Due to high nephrotoxicity, dose management of Colistin is a tough decision to make. At standard dosage the efficacy of Colistin is not well defined. Consequently, strategies involving higher dosages were suggested.
Objective: To evaluate the high dose of Colistin as non-inferior to standard dose in the treatment of CR-GNB in critically ill patients.
Study Design: Retrospective comparative study
Place and Duration of Study: Intensive Care Unit, King Saud Medical City Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2017.
Methodology: One hundred and ninety two patients that met the inclusion criteria from all participants were further divided into two groups. Group H (High dose) given the high dose of Colistin (9 million units intravenously (IV) loading dose, and then 9 million units/day in 2 or three divided doses) whereas group S was administered with standard dose (no loading dose, 6 million units/day). The primary endpoint of the study was the assessment of nephrotoxicity after the start of Colistin and secondary endpoints were the mortality within 14 days of commencing Colistin along with clinical effects and microbial clearance upon completion of treatment.
Results: The results of the study established the non-inferiority of high dose of Colistin for the renal safety and also showed significant improvement in microbial clearance and length of ICU stay as compared to the standard dose. The other secondary end points such as mortality (p = 0.99), length of hospital stay (p = 0.39), and global improvement (p value of 0.06) revealed no significant difference between the two groups.
Conclusion: The high dose of Colistin for the treatment of carbapenem resistance gram negative bacilli (CRGNB) was as safe as the standard dose for renal safety. But we also found that it also accelerates microbial clearance and reduces the time spent in the intensive care unit.