Gentamicin administration via peritoneal dialysis fluid: the risk of ototoxicity

In a prospective study on 47 patients, 16 mg of gentamicin per two litres dialysate was administered intraperitoneally at every cycle of intermittent peritoneal dialysis, carried out over the course of several days. Serum gentamicin sampling, pure tone audiometry and caloric tests were performed before and during the treatment. The gentamicin levels reached at the end of the thirtieth cycle were observed to be low. In view of this, the risk of acute ototoxicity was considered to be minimal. This was confirmed by the absence of clinical audiometric or vestibulometric evidence of toxicity.