Gentamicin extended interval regimen and ototoxicity in neonates

ObjectivesTo assess the extended interval regimen gentamicin associated ototoxicity in neonatal intensive care unit using hearing tests.MethodsTwo hundred and twenty neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care were assessed; 110 neonates who had received gentamicin and 110 neonates who had not received gentamicin served as control group. Gentamicin group were further subdivided according to the duration of treatment into 50 neonates who had received gentamicin for 5 days or less and 60 neonates who had received gentamicin for more than 5 days. TEOAEs were used for hearing screening. Auditory brain response was performed 3 months later for failed cases to confirm the hearing impairment.ResultsThree neonates failed TEOAEs screening in each group but hearing impairment was confirmed in one neonate only (0.9%) in each group (gentamicin and control groups). Neonates who received gentamicin for more than 5 days showed comparable results as regard TEOAEs or ABR results with those who received gentamicin for 5 days or less, and control group.ConclusionsExtended interval dosing of gentamicin therapy in neonates does not increase the incidence of hearing loss. This suggests that hearing loss in neonatal intensive care unit may be attributed to factors other than gentamicin treatment.