A case of oral neomycin ototoxicity is presented, followed by a summary of known cases in the English literature. While it is known that neomycin is concentrated in the inner ear fluids, at the present time the biochemical basis of its ototoxic effect has not been definitively elucidated. High frequency audiometry can aid in the early detection of the onset of neomycin-induced deafness. Dialysis has a limited but useful role in preventing neomycin ototoxicity.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
LastPMSherlockS: Systemic absorption of orally administered neomycin in liver disease. N Engl J Med262: 385–389, 1960.
2.
HalpernEBHellerMF: Ototoxicity of orally administered neomycin. Arch Otolaryngol73: 73–75, 1961.
3.
KingJT: Severe deafness in an infant following oral administration of neomycin. J Med Assoc Georgia51: 530–531, 1962.
4.
GreenburgLHMomaryH: Audiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity due to orally administered neomycin. JAMA194: 237–238, 1965.
5.
GibsonWSJr: Deafness due to orally administered neomycin. Arch Otolaryngol86: 57–59, 1967.
6.
RubenRJDalyJF: Neomycin ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. A case report following oral administration. Laryngoscope78: 1734–1737, 1968.
7.
BerkDPChalmersT: Deafness complicating antibiotic therapy of hepatic encephalopathy. Ann Intern Med73: 393–396, 1970.
8.
KalbianVV: Deafness following oral use of neomycin. South Med J65: 499–501, 1972.
9.
KhodanovaRNOberyukhtinaTNDmitriyevaKA: Deafness following local application of neomycin. Vesta Otorinolaringol33: 109–110, 1971.
10.
PothEJFrommSMWiseRI: Neomycin, a new intestinal antiseptic. Texas Rep Biol Med8: 353–360, 1950.
11.
LeachWB: Ototoxicity of neomycin and other antibiotics. J Laryngol Otol76: 774–790, 1962.
12.
VernierVGAllevaFR: The bioassay of kanamycin auditory toxicity. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Ther176: 59–73, 1968.
13.
MeuwissenHJRobinsonGC: The ototoxic antibiotics. Clin Pediat (Phila)6: 262–269, 1967.
14.
KuninCMFinlandM: Restrictions imposed on antibiotic therapy by renal failure. Arch Intern Med104: 1030–1050, 1959.
15.
OstynFTybergheinJ: Influence of some streptomyces antibiotics on the inner ear of the guinea pig. Acta Otolaryngol [Suppl] (Stockh) 234: 74–91, 1968.
16.
SpoendlinH: Innervation densities of the cochlea. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)73: 235–2481972.
17.
LindsayJRProctorLRWorkWP: Histopathologic inner ear changes in deafness due to neomycin in a human. Laryngoscope70: 382–392, 1960.
18.
LowryLDMayMPastoreP: Acute histopathologic inner ear changes in deafness due to neomycin: A case report. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol82: 876–880, 1973.
SpoendlinH: Zur ototoxizitat des strep-tomyzins. Pract Otorhinolaryngol (Basel)28: 305–322, 1966.
21.
BrownRDDaigneaultEA: Neomycin: Ototoxicity and the cochlear efferents. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh)76: 128–135, 1973.
22.
SchachtJ: Interaction of neomycin with phosphoinositide metabolism in guinea pig inner ear and brain tissues. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol83: 613–618, 1974.
23.
JacobsonEJDownsMPFletcherJL: U. S. Army Medical Research Laboratory, report No. 820, Fort Knox, Kentucky, 1969, pp 1–8.