Assessment of the Ototoxic Effects of Amikacin and Meropenem among Neonates in a Tertiary Government Hospital

Methods: Design: Prospective Quasi-Experimental Controlled Clinical Trial Setting: Tertiary Government Hospital Subjects: Neonates treated for sepsis neonatorum in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between August to October 2012 who met inclusion criteria were included in this study. Controls were neonates born in the same institution who were not admitted and did not receive any antibiotic treatment. Excluded were those with APGAR < 5 at first minute, birth weight < 1000 grams, clinically evident congenital anomalies and initial “refer” results on OAE. Neonates were subjected to OAE testing before and after seven days treatment with amikacin, meropenem or a combination of both drugs. Results were analysed using chi-square test. Maternal drug intake, family history of hearing impairment and clinical outcomes (whether expired or discharged improved) were not included in this study. Assessment of ototoxic effects were limited to OAE alone and not confirmed by ABR.