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Ototoxicity induced by gentamicin and furosemide
Duane E Bates1, Steve J Beaumont, Barry W Baylis
1Internal Medicine, Foothills Medical Centre, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. duane.bates@crha-health.ab.ca
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|March 16, 2002
Summary
This case study highlights how gentamicin and furosemide combination therapy can cause rapid hearing loss. Even short-term use of these ototoxic medications poses a significant risk for auditory damage.
Area of Science:
- Ototoxicity
- Pharmacology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Aminoglycoside antibiotics, like gentamicin, are crucial for treating severe infections.
- Furosemide is a loop diuretic commonly used for fluid management.
- Ototoxicity is a known adverse effect of certain medications, including aminoglycosides.
Observation:
- A 60-year-old woman developed profound bilateral hearing loss after five days of once-daily gentamicin therapy.
- The patient also received a single dose of furosemide during her hospital stay.
- Audiogram confirmed moderate to moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss.
Findings:
- The combination of gentamicin and furosemide led to rapid and severe ototoxicity.
- Risk factors such as age and elevated temperature may have contributed.
- The synergistic effect of these ototoxic medications is a critical concern.
Implications:
- Clinicians must exercise caution when co-administering gentamicin and furosemide.
- Awareness of potential synergistic ototoxicity is vital for patient safety.
- This case underscores the importance of monitoring hearing function during treatment with ototoxic agents.