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  Vol. 134 No. 12, December 1999 TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Analysis of Aminoglycosides in the Treatment of Gram-negative Infections in Surgical Patients

Traves D. Crabtree, MD; Shawn J. Pelletier, MD; Thomas G. Gleason, MD; Timothy L. Pruett, MD; Robert G. Sawyer, MD

Arch Surg. 1999;134:1293-1299.

Hypothesis  Antibiotic regimens containing aminoglycosides result in a similar outcome compared with nonaminoglycoside regimens in the treatment of gram-negative infections in surgical patients.

Design  An inception cohort study of hospitalized surgical patients from December 1, 1996, through September 30, 1998. Patients were observed from the time of diagnosis of infection to discharge.

Setting  University hospital.

Patients  Two hundred fifty-eight consecutive gram-negative infections occurring in general surgical and trauma patients and patients undergoing transplantation. Sixty-six patients received aminoglycosides as a component of their treatment regimen, whereas 192 received other agents.

Results  Patients treated with aminoglycosides were younger (mean ± SEM age, 48 ± 2 vs 53 ± 1 years; P = .04 by univariate analysis) and had a similar APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) score (mean ± SEM, 17 ± 1 vs 15 ± 1; P = .10), yet had a significantly higher mortality vs patients treated with other agents (29% vs 14%; P = .02). A larger proportion of patients requiring hemodialysis were treated with aminoglycosides (33% vs 13%; P = .001). Although there was no difference in the sites of infection between groups, surgical patients with gram-negative pneumonia had a higher mortality when treated with aminoglycosides (37% vs 18%; P = .04), despite similar APACHE II scores (mean ± SEM, 20 ± 1 vs 18 ± 1; P = .40).

Conclusions  Despite a younger age and similar severity of illness, patients with gram-negative infections treated with aminoglycosides were associated with a higher mortality rate, although this may be related to selection bias in the use of aminoglycoside agents. The mortality rate associated with gram-negative pneumonia was also higher in patients treated with aminoglycosides, despite a similar severity of illness. Future randomized studies are necessary to reanalyze the role of aminoglycosides in treating surgical patients with gram-negative infections, particularly pneumonia.


From the Surgical Infectious Disease Laboratory, Department of Surgery, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville.



THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Efficacy and safety of aminoglycoside monotherapy: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Vidal et al.
J Antimicrob Chemother 2007;60:247-257.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

{beta} lactam monotherapy versus {beta} lactam-aminoglycoside combination therapy for sepsis in immunocompetent patients: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials
Paul et al.
BMJ 2004;328:668.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  





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