Premium
In Vitro Characteristics of Tobramycin Aerosol from Ultrasonic and Jet Nebulizers
Author(s) -
Asmus Michael J.,
Milavetz Gary,
Tice Angela L.,
Teresi Mary E.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.21.6.534.34547
Subject(s) - nebulizer , aerosol , tobramycin , jet (fluid) , ultrasonic sensor , chemistry , chromatography , anesthesia , medicine , aerospace engineering , biochemistry , organic chemistry , gentamicin , radiology , antibiotics , engineering
Study Objective. To compare the in vitro performance of an ultrasonic nebulizer and a jet nebulizer in producing a respirable aerosol of tobramycin solution for injection. Design. In vitro observational study. Devices. Ultrasonic and jet nebulizers. Intervention. Output was determined by measuring the difference in nebulizer weight before and after nebulizing 3 ml of tobramycin injection solution. Mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and respirable mass were determined by sampling tobramycin aerosol into a cascade impactor. Measurements and Main Results. Mean (SD) output was 1.14 (0.09) ml/minute for the ultrasonic nebulizer and 0.64 (0.08) ml/minute (p<0.001) for the jet nebulizer. Mean MMAD for the jet nebulizer (2.31 [0.10] μm) was less than that of the ultrasonic nebulizer (2.81 [0.17] μm, p<0.001). The majority of tobramycin aerosol produced was in the respirable range for both the ultrasonic (65.1% [4.10%]) and jet (60.6% [0.73%], p=0.008) nebulizers. Conclusion. Despite small, clinically unimportant differences in aerosol size and respirable fraction, either device would be acceptable to administer tobramycin injection solution.