Tobramycin 40 mg/mL Injection, Solution

INDICATIONS AND USAGE: Tobramycin is indicated for the treatment of serious bacterial infections caused by susceptible strains of the designated microorganisms in the diseases listed below: Septicemia in the neonate, child, and adult caused by P. aeruginosa , E. coli , and Klebsiella sp. Lower respiratory tract infections caused by P. aeruginos a, Klebsiella sp, Enterobacter sp, Serratia sp, E. coli , and S. aureus (penicillinase- and non-penicillinase-producing strains). Serious central-nervous-system infections (meningitis) caused by susceptible organisms.

Intra-abdominal infections, including peritonitis, caused by E. coli , Klebsiella sp, and Enterobacter sp. Skin, bone, and skin-structure infections caused by P. aeruginosa , Proteus sp, E. coli , Klebsiella sp, Enterobacter sp, and S. aureus. Complicated and recurrent urinary tract infections caused by P. aeruginosa , Proteus sp (indole-positive and indole-negative), E. coli , Klebsiella sp, Enterobacter sp, Serratia sp, S. aureus , Providencia sp, and Citrobacter sp.

Aminoglycosides, including tobramycin sulfate, are not indicated in uncomplicated initial episodes of urinary tract infections unless the causative organisms are not susceptible to antibiotics having less potential toxicity. Tobramycin may be considered in serious staphylococcal infections when penicillin or other potentially less toxic drugs are contraindicated and when bacterial susceptibility testing and clinical judgment indicate its use. Bacterial cultures should be obtained prior to and during treatment to isolate and identify etiologic organisms and to test their susceptibility to tobramycin.

If susceptibility tests show that the causative organisms are resistant to tobramycin, other appropriate therapy should be instituted. In patients in whom a serious life-threatening gram-negative infection is suspected, including those in whom concurrent therapy with a penicillin or cephalosporin and an aminoglycoside may be indicated, treatment with tobramycin sulfate may be initiated before the results of susceptibility studies are obtained. The decision to continue therapy with tobramycin should be based on the results of susceptibility studies, the severity of the infection, and the important additional concepts discussed in the WARNINGS box above.

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of tobramycin and other antibacterial drugs, tobramycin should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible bacteria. When culture and susceptibility information are available, they should be considered in selecting or modifying antimicrobial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION: Tobramycin Injection, USP may be given intramuscularly or intravenously. Recommended dosages are the same for both routes. The patient's pretreatment body weight should be obtained for calculation of correct dosage.

It is desirable to measure both peak and trough serum concentrations (see WARNINGS box and PRECAUTIONS ). Administration for Patients with Normal Renal Function Adults with Serious Infections: 3 mg/kg/day in 3 equal doses every 8 hours (see Table 3 ). Adults with Life-Threatening Infections: Up to 5 mg/kg/day may be administered in 3 or 4 equal doses (see Table 3 ).

The dosage should be reduced to 3 mg/kg/day as soon as clinically indicated. To prevent increased toxicity due to excessive blood levels, dosage should not exceed 5 mg/kg/day unless serum levels are monitored (see WARNINGS box and PRECAUTIONS ). Table 3.

DOSAGE SCHEDULE GUIDE FOR TOBRAMYCIN INJECTION, USP IN ADULTS WITH NORMAL RENAL FUNCTION (Dosage at 8-Hour Intervals) *Applicable to all product forms except Tobramycin Injection, USP, 10 mg/mL(Pediatric). For Patient Weighing Usual Dose for Serious Infections 1 mg/kg q8h (Total, 3 mg/kg/day) kg lb mg/dose mL/dose* q8h 120 264 120 mg 3 mL 115 253 115 mg 2.9 mL 110 242 110 mg 2.75 mL 105 231 105 mg 2.6 mL 100 220 100 mg 2.5 mL 95 209 95 mg 2.4 mL 90 198 90 mg 2.25 mL 85 187 85 mg 2.1 mL 80 176 80 mg 2 mL 75 165 75 mg 1.9 mL 70 154 70 mg 1.75 mL 65 143 65 mg 1.6 mL 60 132 60 mg 1.5 mL 55 121 55 mg 1.4 mL 50 110 50 mg 1.25 mL 45 99 45 mg 1.1 mL 40 88 40 mg 1 mL For Patient Weighing Maximum Dose for Life- Threatening Infections (Reduce as soon as possible) 1.66 mg/kg q8h (Total, 5 mg/kg/day) kg lb mg/dose mL/dose* q8h 120 264 200 mg 5 mL 115 253 191 mg 4.75 mL 110 242 183 mg 4.5 mL 105 231 175 mg 4.4 mL 100 220 166 mg 4.2 mL 95 209 158 mg 4 mL 90 198 150 mg 3.75 mL 85 187 141 mg 3.5 mL 80 176 133 mg 3.3 mL 75 165 125 mg 3.1 mL 70 154 116 mg 2.9 mL 65 143 108 mg 2.7 mL 60 132 100 mg 2.5 mL 55 121 91 mg 2.25 mL 50 110 83 mg 2.1 mL 45 99 75 mg 1.9 mL 40 88 66 mg 1.6 mL Pediatric Patients (Greater Than 1 Week of Age): 6 to 7.5 mg/kg/day in 3 or 4 equally divided doses (2 to 2.5 mg/kg every 8 hours or 1.5 to 1.89 mg/kg every 6 hours).

Premature or Full-Term Neonates 1 Week of Age or Less: Up to 4 mg/kg/day may be administered in 2 equal doses every 12 hours. It is desirable to limit treatment to a short term. The usual duration of treatment is 7 to 10 days.

A longer course of therapy may be necessary in difficult and complicated infections. In such cases, monitoring of renal, auditory, and vestibular functions is advised, because neurotoxicity is more likely to occur when treatment is extended longer than 10 days. Dosage in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis In patients with cystic fibrosis, altered pharmacokinetics may result in reduced serum concentrations of aminoglycosides.

Measurement of tobramycin serum concentration during treatment is especially important as a basis for determining appropriate dose. In patients with severe cystic fibrosis, an initial dosing regimen of 10 mg/kg/day in 4 equally divided doses is recommended. This dosing regimen is suggested only as a guide.

The serum levels of tobramycin should be measured directly during treatment due to wide interpatient variability. Administration for Patients with Impaired Renal Function Whenever possible, serum tobramycin concentrations should be monitored during therapy. Following a loading dose of 1 mg/kg, subsequent dosage in these patients must be adjusted, either with reduced doses administered at 8-hour intervals or with normal doses given at prolonged intervals.

Both of these methods are suggested as guides to be used when serum levels of tobramycin cannot be measured directly. They are based on either the creatinine clearance or the serum creatinine of the patient, because these values correlate with the half-life of tobramycin. The dosage schedules derived from either method should be used in conjunction with careful cli…

Information for Patients Patients should be counseled that antibacterial drugs including tobramycin should only be used to treat bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections (e.g., the common cold). When an antibacterial drug product is prescribed to treat a bacterial infection, patients should be told that although it is common to feel better early in the course of therapy, the medication should be taken exactly as directed.

Skipping doses or not completing the full course of therapy may (1) decrease the effectiveness of the immediate treatment and (2) increase the likelihood that bacteria will develop resistance and will not be treatable by tobramycin or other antibacterial drugs in the future. Diarrhea is a common problem caused by antibiotics, which usually ends when the antibiotic is discontinued. Sometimes after starting treatment with antibiotics, patients can develop watery and bloody stools (with or without stomach cramps and fever) even as late as two or more months after having taken the last dose of the antibiotic.

If this occurs, patients should contact their physician as soon as possible.