Impact of Colistin Dosing on the Incidence of Nephrotoxicity in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Colistin therapy is associated with the development of nephrotoxicity. We examined the incidence and risk factors of nephrotoxicity associated with colistin dosing. We included adult hospitalized patients who received intravenous (IV) colistin for >72 h between January 2014 and December 2015. The primary endpoint was the incidence of colistin-associated acute kidney injury (AKI). The secondary analyses were predictors of nephrotoxicity, proportions of patients inappropriately dosed with colistin according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), and Garonzik formula and clinical cure rate. We enrolled 198 patients with a mean age of 55.67 ± 19.35 years, 62% were men, and 60% were infected with multidrug-resistant organisms. AKI occurred in 44.4% (95% CI: 37.4–51.7). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that daily colistin dose per body weight (kg) was associated with AKI (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.08–2.30; p = 0.02). Other significant predictors included serum albumin level, body mass index (BMI), and severity of illness. None of the patients received loading doses, however FDA-recommended dosing was achieved in 70.2% and the clinical cure rate was 13%. The incidence of colistin-associated AKI is high. Daily colistin dose, BMI, serum albumin level, and severity of illness are independent predictors of nephrotoxicity.

Keywords

• colistin
• colistin sulfate
• polymyxins
• colistin/administration and dosage
• colistin/toxicity
• acute kidney injury/drug effect