Polymyxin B

Polymyxin B

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Questions & Answers

Side Effects & Adverse Reactions

Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including Polymyxin B for Injection, and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis. Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon leading to overgrowth of C. difficile.

C. difficile produces toxins A and B which contribute to the development of CDAD. Hypertoxin producing strains of C. difficile cause increased morbidity and mortality, as these infections can be refractory to antimicrobial therapy and may require colectomy. CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhea following antibiotic use. Careful medical history is necessary since CDAD has been reported to occur over two months after the administration of antibacterial agents.

If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, ongoing antibiotic use not directed against C. difficile may need to be discontinued. Appropriate fluid and electrolyte management, protein supplementation, antibiotic treatment of C. difficile and surgical evaluation should be instituted as clinically indicated.

Legal Issues

There is currently no legal information available for this drug.

FDA Safety Alerts

There are currently no FDA safety alerts available for this drug.

Manufacturer Warnings

There is currently no manufacturer warning information available for this drug.

FDA Labeling Changes

There are currently no FDA labeling changes available for this drug.

Uses

Acute Infections Caused by Susceptible Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Polymyxin B sulfate is a drug of choice in the treatment of infections of the urinary tract, meninges, and bloodstream caused by susceptible strains of Ps. aeruginosa. It may also be used topically and subconjunctivally in the treatment of infections of the eye caused by susceptible strains of Ps. aeruginosa.

It may be indicated in serious infections caused by susceptible strains of the following organisms, when less potentially toxic drugs are ineffective or contraindicated:

H influenzae, specifically meningeal infections.

Escherichia coli, specifically urinary tract infections.

Aerobacter aerogenes, specifically bacteremia.

Klebsiella pneumoniae, specifically bacteremia.

NOTE: IN MENINGEAL INFECTIONS, POLYMYXIN B SULFATE SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED ONLY BY THE INTRATHECAL ROUTE.

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of polymyxin B and other antibacterial drugs, polymyxin B 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 antibacterial therapy. In the absence of such data, local epidemiology and susceptibility patterns may contribute to the empiric selection of therapy.

History

There is currently no drug history available for this drug.

Other Information

Polymyxin B for Injection, USP is one of a group of basic polypeptide antibiotics derived from B polymyxa (B aerosporous). Polymyxin B sulfate is the sulfate salt of Polymyxins B1 and B2, which are produced by the growth of Bacillus polymyxa (Prazmowski) Migula (Fam. Bacillacea). The chemical name of polymyxin B sulfate is N-[4-amino-1-[[1-[[4-amino-1-oxo-1-[[6,9,18-tris(2-aminoethyl)-15-benzyl-3-(1-hydroxyethyl)-12-(2-methylpropyl)-2,5,8,11,14,17,20-heptaoxo-1,4,7,10,13,16,19-heptazacyclotricos-21-yl]amino]butan-2-yl]amino]-3-hydroxy-1-oxobutan-2-yl]amino]-1-oxobutan-2-yl]-6-methyloctanamide; sulfuric acid. It has a potency of not less than 6000 polymyxin B units per mg, calculated on the anhydrous basis. The structural formulae are:

Structural Formulae

Each vial contains Polymyxin B Sulfate equivalent to 500,000 polymyxin B units for parenteral or ophthalmic administration.

Polymyxin B for Injection, USP is a white to almost white colored powder suitable for preparation of sterile solutions for intramuscular, intravenous drip, intrathecal, or ophthalmic use.

In the medical literature, dosages have frequently been given in terms of equivalent weights of pure polymyxin B base. Each milligram of pure polymyxin B base is equivalent to 10,000 units of polymyxin B and each microgram of pure polymyxin B base is equivalent to 10 units of polymyxin B.

Aqueous solutions of polymyxin B sulfate may be stored up to 12 months without significant loss of potency if kept under refrigeration. In the interest of safety, solutions for parenteral use should be stored under refrigeration and any unused portion should be discarded after 72 hours. Polymyxin B sulfate should not be stored in alkaline solutions since they are less stable.

Polymyxin B Manufacturers


  • Sagent Pharmaceuticals
    Polymyxin B (Polymyxin B Sulfate) Injection, Powder, For Solution [Sagent Pharmaceuticals]
  • X-gen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Polymyxin B Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution [X-gen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]
  • X-gen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Polymyxin B Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution [X-gen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]
  • X-gen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Polymyxin B Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution [X-gen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.]
  • Fresenius Kabi Usa, Llc
    Polymyxin B (Polymyxin B Sulfate) Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, For Solution [Fresenius Kabi Usa, Llc]

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