Drug Detail:Tobramycin ophthalmic (Tobramycin ophthalmic [ toe-bra-mye-sin-off-thal-mik ])
Drug Class: Ophthalmic anti-infectives
Usual Adult Dose for Bacterial Conjunctivitis
Ophthalmic ointment:
- Mild to moderate disease: Apply a 1.27 cm long ribbon to the affected eye(s) 2 to 3 times a day
- Severe disease: Apply a 1.27 cm long ribbon to the affected eye(s) every 3 to 4 hours until improvement, increasing the dosing interval gradually until discontinuation
Ophthalmic solution:
- Mild to moderate disease: 1 to 2 drops into the affected eye(s) every 4 hours
- Severe disease: Up to 2 drops into the affected eye(s) every hour until improvement, increasing the dosing interval gradually until discontinuation
Comments:
- The tip of the container should not be allowed to touch any surface, including the eye or eyelid.
- This drug should not be injected or directly introduced into the anterior chamber of the eye.
Use: Treatment of external infections of the eye and its adnexa caused by susceptible strains of:
- Acinetobacter calcoaceticus
- Enterobacter aerogenes
- Escherichia coli
- Haemophilus aegyptius
- Haemophilus influenzae
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
- Moraxella lacunata
- Morganella morganii
- Some Neisseria species
- Proteus mirabilis
- Most Proteus vulgaris strains
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Staphylococci (including Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-positive/-negative Staphylococcus epidermidis, and penicillin-resistant strains)
- Streptococci (including some group A beta-hemolytic species, and some Streptococcus pneumoniae)
Usual Pediatric Dose for Bacterial Conjunctivitis
2 months and older:
Ophthalmic ointment:
- Mild to moderate disease: Apply a 1.27 cm long ribbon to the affected eye(s) 2 to 3 times a day
- Severe disease: Apply a 1.27 cm long ribbon to the affected eye(s) every 3 to 4 hours until improvement, increasing the dosing interval gradually until discontinuation
Ophthalmic solution:
- Mild to moderate disease: 1 to 2 drops into the affected eye(s) every 4 hours
- Severe infections: Up to 2 drops into the affected eye(s) every hour until improvement, increasing the dosing interval gradually until discontinuation
Comments:
- The tip of the container should not be allowed to touch any surface, including the eye or eyelid.
- This drug should not be injected or directly introduced into the anterior chamber of the eye.
Use: Treatment of external infections of the eye and its adnexa caused by susceptible strains of:
- A calcoaceticus
- E aerogenes
- E coli
- H aegyptius
- H influenzae
- K pneumoniae
- M lacunata
- M morganii
- Some Neisseria species
- P mirabilis
- Most P vulgaris strains
- P aeruginosa
- Staphylococci (including S aureus, coagulase-positive/-negative S epidermidis, and penicillin-resistant strains)
- Streptococci (including some group A beta-hemolytic species, and some S pneumoniae)
Usual Pediatric Dose for Surgical Prophylaxis
American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendations: Multiple drops to the affected eye(s) 2 to 24 hours prior to the procedure
Comment: Susceptibility of isolates should be considered when determining treatment.
Use: Preoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis in neonatal patients older than 72 hours and children undergoing ophthalmic procedures with the following likely pathogens:
- Enteric gram-negative bacilli
- Pseudomonas species
- S aureus
- S epidermidis
- Streptococci
Renal Dose Adjustments
Data not available
Liver Dose Adjustments
Data not available
Dose Adjustments
Patients receiving topical and systemic aminoglycoside antibiotics: Total serum concentrations should be monitored.
Precautions
CONTRAINDICATIONS:
- Hypersensitivity to the active component or to any of the ingredients
NARROW THERAPEUTIC INDEX:
- This drug should be considered a narrow therapeutic index (NTI) drug as small differences in dose or blood concentrations may lead to serious therapeutic failures or adverse drug reactions.
- Generic substitution should be done cautiously, if at all, as current bioequivalence standards are generally insufficient for NTI drugs.
- Additional and/or more frequent monitoring should be done to ensure receipt of an effective dose while avoiding unnecessary toxicities.
Safety and efficacy have not been established in patients younger than 2 months.
Consult WARNINGS section for additional precautions.
Dialysis
Data not available
Other Comments
Administration advice:
- This drug should not be injected or introduced into the anterior chamber of the eye.
- During administration, the tip of the container should not touch the eye, eyelid, or any other surface.
- Ophthalmic ointment: Prior to administration, the manufacturer product information should be consulted.
Storage requirements:
- Ophthalmic ointment: Store at 2 to 25C
- Ophthalmic solution: Store at or below 25C; keep container tightly closed when not in use.
General:
- Limitation of use: This drug is not effective against most strains of group D Streptococci.
Monitoring:
- HYPERSENSITIVITY: Signs/symptoms of hypersensitivity
- IMMUNOLOGIC: Bacterial response to treatment
Patient advice:
- Inform patients that this drug may cause blurred vision, and they should avoid driving or operating machinery if these side effects occur.
- Advise patients to speak to their healthcare provider if they become pregnant, intend to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.