Renal function in patients treated with tobramycin-cefuroxime or tobramycin-penicillin G

In order to evaluate the potentiating effect of cefuroxime on tobramycin nephrotoxicity 21 immunocompromised patients with suspected septicaemia were randomized to treatment with either tobramycin + cefuroxime or tobramycin + penicillin G. 51Chromium-EDTA clearance, serum creatinine, serum beta 2-microglobulin, urinary, alanine aminopeptidase, urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase and urinary beta 2-microglobulin were measured during a nine day course of the antibiotic combinations. Enzymuria and a small but significant decrease of 51Chromium-EDTA clearance of equal magnitude in both treatment groups occurred. However the results cannot be extrapolated to other doses and treatment times than used in the study.