Dangerous Drug: Polymyxin B sulfate

Dangerous Drug: Polymyxin B sulfate
(pol i mix’ in)
PREGNANCY CATEGORY C
Drug Class
Antibiotic
Therapeutic Actions
Bactericidal: Has surfactant (detergent) activity that allows it to penetrate and disrupt the cell membranes of susceptible gram-negative bacteria, causing cell death; not effective against Proteus species.
Indications
  • Acute infections caused by susceptible strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Aerobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae when less toxic drugs are ineffective or contraindicated
  • Intrathecal: Meningeal infections caused by P. aeruginosa
Available Forms
Injection—500,000 units/vial
Dosages
Adults
IV
15,000–25,000 units/kg/day IV may be given every 12 hr. Do not exceed 25,000 units/kg/day.
IM
25,000–30,000 units/kg/day IM divided and given at 4- to 6-hr intervals.
Intrathecal
50,000 units once daily for 3–4 days; then 50,000 units every other day for at least 2 wk after cultures of CSF are negative, and glucose content is normal.
Pediatric patients
IV
  • Infants: Up to 40,000 units/kg/day IV.
    • Older than 2 yr: Use adult dosage.
IM
  • Infants: Up to 40,000 units/kg/day IM; doses as high as 45,000 units/kg/day have been used in cases of sepsis caused by P. aeruginosa.
Older than 2 yr: Use adult dosage.
Intrathecal
Jul 21, 2016 | Posted by in NURSING | Comments Off on Dangerous Drug: Polymyxin B sulfate

Full access? Get Clinical Tree

Get Clinical Tree app for offline access