tobramicin

Question

Goodafternoon. My son has cystic fibrosis. In case of the exacerbation he is treated with antibiotics in Kaunas clinics. Pseudomonas is finding in him sputum. He is treated with amikacin and ceftazidim. I would like to known about possibility to use inhaled tobramycin. Why he not treated this drug in Kaunas clinics? I heard that in Vilnius clinics children with cystic fibrosis are treated with tobramicin. May be we can use inhaled gentamicin? But I heard inhaled gentamicin usually cause bronchial spasm.

Answer

Dear questioner
Thank you for question. Amikacin and ceftazidim are usual antibiotics for treatment of the patients with Pseudomonas infection. Inhaled tobramycin used for treatment of Pseudomonas infection in several countries as well. But in Lithuania tobramycin not registered both for intravenous and inhaled using. Some patients in Vilnius clinics were treated with inhaled tobramycin than they participated in clinical study. However, if necessary, your child physician can apply to the State Patients’ Fund at the Ministry of Health, Republic of Lithuania for permission and financial allocation for this medicine.
Decision if your son can use inhaled gentamicin depends on his physician. Every inhaled drug can cause bronchial spasm. It depends on individual airway reactivity (sensitivity) and disease activity as well.
Best regards,
Dr. E. Danila

05.05.2009