Tobramycin is rapidly absorbed following intramuscular administration. Peak
serum concentrations of tobramycin occur between 30 and 90 minutes after intramuscular
administration. Following an intramuscular dose of 1 mg/kg of body weight, maximum
serum concentrations reach about 4 mcg/mL, and measurable levels persist for
as long as 8 hours. Therapeutic serum levels are generally considered to range
from 4 to 6 mcg/mL. When tobramycin is administered by intravenous infusion
over a 1-hour period, the serum concentrations are similar to those obtained
by intramuscular administration. Tobramycin is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal
tract.
In patients with normal renal function, except neonates, tobramycin administered
every 8 hours does not accumulate in the serum. However, in those patients with
reduced renal function and in neonates, the serum concentration of the antibiotic
is usually higher and can be measured for longer periods of time than in normal
adults. Dosage for such patients must, therefore, be adjusted accordingly (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).
Following parenteral administration, little, if any, metabolic transformation
occurs, and tobramycin is eliminated almost exclusively by glomerular filtration.
Renal clearance is similar to that of endogenous creatinine. Ultrafiltration
studies demonstrate that practically no serum protein binding occurs. In patients
with normal renal function, up to 84% of the dose is recoverable from urine
in 8 hours and up to 93% in 24 hours.
Peak urine concentrations ranging from 75 to 100 mcg/mL have been observed
following the intramuscular injection of a single dose of 1 mg/kg. After several
days of treatment, the amount of tobramycin excreted in the urine approaches
the daily dose administered. When renal function is impaired, excretion of tobramycin
is slowed, and accumulation of the drug may cause toxic blood levels.
The serum half-life in normal individuals is 2 hours. An inverse relationship
exists between serum half-life and creatinine clearance, and the dosage schedule
should be adjusted according to the degree of renal impairment (see DOSAGE
AND ADMINISTRATION). In patients undergoing dialysis, 25% to 70% of
the administered dose may be removed, depending on the duration and type of
dialysis.
Tobramycin can be detected in tissues and body fluids after parenteral administration.
Concentrations in bile and stools ordinarily have been low, which suggests minimum
biliary excretion. Tobramycin has appeared in low concentration in the cerebrospinal
fluid following parenteral administration, and concentrations are dependent
on dose, rate of penetration, and degree of meningeal inflammation. It has also
been found in sputum, peritoneal fluid, synovial fluid, and abscess fluids,
and it crosses the placental membranes. Concentrations in the renal cortex are
several times higher than the usual serum levels.
Probenecid does not affect the renal tubular transport of tobramycin.
Microbiology
Tobramycin acts by inhibiting synthesis of protein in bacterial cells. In
vitro tests demonstrate that tobramycin is bactericidal.
Tobramycin has been shown to be active against most strains of the following
organisms both in vitro and in clinical infections as described in the
Indications and Usage section:
Aerobic Gram-positive microorganisms
Staphylococcus aureus
Aerobic Gram-negative microorganisms
Citrobacter species
Enterobacter species
Escherichia coli
Klebsiella species
Morganella morganii
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Proteus mirabilis
Proteus vulgaris
Providencia species
Serratis species
Aminoglycosides have a low order of activity against most gram-positive organisms,
including Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniac, and enterococci.
Although most strains of enterococci demonstrate in vitro resistance,
some strains in this group are susceptible. In vitro studies have shown
that an aminoglycoside combined with an antibiotic that interferes with cell-wall
synthesis affects some enterococcal strains synergistically. The combination
of penicillin G and tobramycin results in a synergistic bactericidal effect
in vitro against certain strains of Enterococcus faecalis. However,
this combination is not synergistic against other closely related organisms,
eg, Enterococcus faecium. Speciation of enterococci alone cannot be used
to predict susceptibility. Susceptibility testing and tests for antibiotic synergisms
are emphasized.
Cross resistance between aminoglycosides may occur.
Susceptibility Tests
Diffusion techniques
Quantitative methods that require measurement of zone diameters give the most
precise estimates of susceptibility of bacteria to antimicrobial agents. One
such procedure is the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS)-approved
procedure.1 This method has been recommended for use with disks to test susceptibility
to tobramycin. Interpretation involves correlation of the diameters obtained
in the disk test with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for tobramycin.
Reports from the laboratory giving results of the standard single-disk susceptibility
test with a 10-mcg tobramycin disk should be interpreted according to the following
criteria:
| Zone Diameter (mm) |
Interpretation |
| ≥ 15 |
(S) Susceptible |
| 13-14 |
(I) Intermediate |
| ≤ 12 |
(R) Resistant |
A report of “Susceptible” indicates that the pathogen is likely to
be inhibited by generally achievable blood levels. A report of “Intermediate”
suggests that the organism would be susceptible if high dosage is used or if
the infection is confined to tissues and fluids in which high antimicrobial
levels are obtained. A report of “Resistant” indicates that achievable
concentrations are unlikely to be inhibitory and other therapy should be selected.
Standardized procedures require the use of laboratory control organisms. The
10-mcg tobramycin disk should give the following zone diameters:
| Organism |
Zone Diameter (mm) |
| E. coliATCC 25922 |
18-26 |
| P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 |
19-25 |
| S. aureus ATCC 25923 |
19-29 |
Dilution techniques
Broth and agar dilution methods, such as those recommended by the NCCLS, 2
may be used to determine MICs of tobramycin. MIC test results should be interpreted
according to the following criteria:
| MIC (mcg/mL) |
Interpretation |
| ≤ 4 |
(S) Susceptible |
| 8 |
(I) Intermediate |
| ≥ 16 |
(R) Resistant |
As with standard diffusion methods, dilution procedures require the use of
laboratory control organisms. Tobramycin laboratory reagent should give the
following MIC values:
| Organism |
MIC Range (mcg/mL) |
| E. faecalis ATCC 29212 |
8.0-32.0 |
| E. coli ATCC 25922 |
0.25-1 |
| P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 |
0.12-1 |
| S. aureus ATCC 29213 |
0.12-1 |
Last updated on RxList: 11/13/2008