Use of Intravenous Polymyxin B During Continuous Venovenous Hemodialysis

Described here is the case of a 23-year-old male with Acinetobacter baumannii sepsis and acute renal failure requiring continuous venovenous hemodialysis treated successfully with intravenous polymyxin B. The drug was administered as a loading dose of 2.5 mg/kg, followed by 2 doses of 1 mg/kg on days 4 and 8, then 0.8 mg/kg daily to complete a 24-day course. A discussion of dosing recommendations for polymyxins in dialysis is presented.