Prospective controlled evaluation of auditory function in neonates given netilmicin or amikacin

Longitudinal assessment of intensive care nursery infants given aminoglycoside antibiotics revealed no significant difference in the incidence of hearing impairment when compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Bilateral sensorineural impairment was confirmed in three (2%) infants, one each given netilmicin and amikacin and one untreated control infant. There was a high incidence of transient auditory abnormalities in this intensive care infant population. These findings emphasize the importance of long-term follow-up hearing evaluations in infants who require intensive care management in the neonatal period.