Affiliations: Marklund Children's Home, Bloomingdale, IL, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Audrius V. Plioplys, MD., FRCPC, Marklund
Children's Home, 164 S. Prairie Ave., Bloomingdale, IL 60108, USA. E-mail:
plioplysav@sbcglobal.net
Abstract: Background and methods: In patients with severe cerebral palsy,
pneumonias are a frequent occurrence and can lead to excessive morbidity and
mortality. Similar poor outcomes can occur in patients with cystic fibrosis.
Nebulized tobramycin has been shown to be effective in preventing pneumonias,
and in improving lung function in cystic fibrosis patients. This study reports
results from three patients with severe cerebral palsy who were suffering from
recurrent pneumonias. We compared the 12 months prior to starting nebulized
tobramycin, to the first 12 months of intermittent therapy (28 days of
nebulized antibiotic, followed by 28 days with no antibiotic, then repeated).
We noted the number of pneumonias, the number of hospitalizations due to
pneumonia, and length of hospitalizations for pneumonia. Results: Adding the results from the three patients together, the
number of pneumonias went from 19 during the year prior to starting the
nebulized tobramycin, to 11 during the year of treatment. The number of
hospitalizations for pneumonia went from 11 to 0. The number of days in
hospital for pneumonia went from 110 to 0. Conclusion: As in cystic fibrosis patients, patients with severe
cerebral palsy may benefit from the intermittent use of nebulized tobramycin to
prevent pneumonias and hospitalizations due to pneumonia. Further studies are
warranted.
