Table 2

Recommended doses of i.v. colistin (CMS) in critically ill patients

Normal renal function

3 million IU (240 mg CMS) every 8 h

Manufacturers of European colistin products recommend 50,000 to 75,000 IU/kg/day of CMS in 2-3 divided doses

Manufacturers of the U.S. colistin product, Coly-Mycin, recommend a dose of 2.5 to 5 mg/kg colistin base activity daily divided in 2 to 4 doses

Renal Failure

For serum creatinine level 1.3-1.5 mg/dl, 1.6-2.5 mg/dl, or ≥ 2.6 mg/dl, the recommended dosage of intravenous colistin is 2 million IU (160 mg CMS) every 8 h, 12 h, or 24 h, respectively

Renal replacement therapy

2 million IU (160 mg CMS) after each hemodialysis

2 million IU (160 mg CMS) daily during peritoneal dialysis

Michalopoulos and Falagas Annals of Intensive Care 2011 1:30   doi:10.1186/2110-5820-1-30