Prospective double-blind controlled clinical study of sisomicin versus tobramycin.

A double-blind controlled trial was carried out to compare the efficacy of sisomicin and tobramycin in the treatment of 55 hospitalized patients with serious systemic infections, mostly intra-abdominal or soft-tissue infections. Each drug was administered intramuscularly or intravenously at a dosage of 2.5 to 4.0 mg/kg per day for between 5 and 21 days. At the end of treatment, 22 (79%) of 28 sisomicin-treated patients and 15 (72%) of 21 tobramycin-treated patients were assessed, on the basis of clinical and bacteriological response, as cured or partially cured. Sisomicin was superior in the treatment of Escherichia coli infections. Local tolerance to both drugs was good. The incidence of systemic adverse reactions was low, fewer cases occurring in the sisomicin treatment group than in the tobramycin treatment group.