Nephrotoxicity in Combined Cephalothin and Gentamicin Therapy

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Thirty‐two series of treatment with cephalothin and gentamicin for 5–10 days have been administered to 26 patients. An increase in serum creatinine occurred in 6 series. Important factors for the renal damage were elevated pretreatment serum creatinine, elevated serum gentamicin and probably a high serum cephalothin. In 2 patients the nephrotoxicity was fully reversible; the others died before a dicisive improvement in renal function could be expected. In 11 out of 28 treatment series there was a transient drop in serum potassium. Since the combination of cephalothin and gentamicin as the primary treatment of life‐threatening infection has often proved effective, and since short‐lasting treatment seems to entail only a minute risk of nephrotoxicity in patients with normal pretreatment serum creatinine, we still prefer this treatment in such cases.