Administration of COLISTIMETHATE (also known as colistin/Colomycin® via a conventional nebuliser
Information for patients
NHS Lanarkshire Neonatal Department
PIL.COLIST.18_06653.L
What is Colistimethate?
Colistimethate is an antibiotic medicine, also known as colistin or Colomycin®. It is used to treat infections caused by the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
How is Colistimethate given?
Your child has been prescribed nebulised colistimethate. Colistimethate is inhaled from a device called a nebuliser, which delivers the medicine directly to the lungs in the form of a mist.
- 1month – 2 years: 1 million units twice a day
- 2-18 years: 2 million units twice a day
Doses may be adjusted by your doctor if necessary.
When should Colistimethate be given?
Colistimethate should be administered immediately after physiotherapy, twice a day.
It should be given after all other inhaled medicines.
Equipment needed
| Colistimethate 1 million or 2 million unit powder vials | The medicine |
| Sodium Chloride 0.9% solution for injection 5ml mini plasco amps (BRAUN) | The diluent – to dissolve the colistimethate powder |
| Syringes | To draw up the solution Syringes are single use only i.e. a new syringe should be used each time colistimethate is prepared |
| Nebuliser machine | To administer the medicine |
Instructions
1) Wash your hands.
2) Flip open the plastic cap from the colistimethate vial.
3) Carefully rip the foil seal from around the top of the vial and remove it completely.
4) Remove the rubber bung from the vial.
5) Open the ampoule of sodium chloride by twisting the plastic cap off.
6) Using a syringe, draw up the required volume of sodium chloride 0.9%:
- 1 million unit vial – 2ml
- 2 million unit vial – 4ml
7) Add to the vial of colistimethate.
8) Gently swirl the vial to dissolve the powder. Do not shake the vial too hard as this may make the solution foam.
9) Using a syringe, draw up the entire contents of the vial and add to the nebuliser pot.
IMPORTANT: Do not mix colistimethate with any other medicines for nebulisation at the same time.
Additional information
Please see the information leaflet supplied with the medicine for further information.
Contact your doctor if you experience any unwanted or worrying side effects.
Pub. date: March 2021
Review date: March 2023
Issue No: 02
Reference: PIL.COLIST.18_06653.L
21_05446
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