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Altered objective audiometry in aminoglycosides-treated human neonates
Insights
Aminoglycoside treatments like Gentamicin and Tobramycin may cause ototoxicity in neonates. Brain stem response audiometry showed significantly prolonged wave V latencies after 5 and 10 days of treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Ototoxicology
- Auditory Neuroscience
Background:
- Aminoglycoside antibiotics are crucial for treating neonatal infections.
- Potential ototoxicity is a significant concern with aminoglycoside use in vulnerable neonates.
- Early detection of hearing impairment is vital for developmental outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ototoxic effects of conventional aminoglycoside treatments (Gentamicin, Tobramycin) in neonates.
- To compare auditory brain stem response audiometry (BSRA) findings in treated neonates versus a control group.
- To assess changes in auditory pathway function over time during aminoglycoside therapy.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 15 neonates treated with Gentamicin or Tobramycin and 14 control neonates.
- All neonates were comparable in gestational age and housed in incubators.
- Brain stem response audiometry (BSRA) was performed at baseline (day 0), day 5, and day 10.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in wave V latencies was observed between groups at baseline (day 0).
- After 5 days, treated neonates showed significantly prolonged wave V latencies (9.13 ms) compared to controls (7.75 ms, p < 0.01).
- Prolonged wave V latencies persisted at day 10 in treated neonates (8.73 ms) versus controls (7.31 ms, p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- Conventional doses of Gentamicin and Tobramycin may induce ototoxicity in neonates.
- BSRA is a sensitive tool for detecting early auditory pathway changes associated with aminoglycoside treatment.
- Monitoring auditory function is recommended for neonates receiving aminoglycoside therapy.
Abstract:
To detect the eventual ototoxicity of aminoglycoside treatments in neonates, we compared brain stem response audiometry (BSRA) recordings in 15 neonates treated i.m. with either Gentamicin or Tobramycin at conventional dosages to those of 14 neonates used as a control group. All babies were housed in incubators and were comparable in gestational age (from 29 to 42 weeks). At day 0, BSRA did not significantly differ in the two groups, 90 dB latencies of the prominent wave V measured at 8.51 +/- 0.99 ms in the treated babies and 7.89 +/- 0.84 ms in the controls (p > 0.10), respectively. After 5 days of aminoglycoside treatment, the latencies of the wave V dwelled on 9.13 +/- 1.90 ms while remaining at 7.75 +/- 1.11 ms in the control group (p < 0.01). At day 10 latencies reached 8.73 +/- 1.47 ms in treated babies as compared t 7.31 +/- 1.06 ms in controls (p < 0.01).