User:Mr. Ibrahem/Colistin

Colistin, also known as polymyxin E, is an antibiotic used as a last-resort for multidrug-resistant Gram negative infections including pneumonia. These may involve bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, or Acinetobacter. It comes in a form which can be injected into a vein or muscle or inhaled, known as colistimethate sodium and one which is applied to the skin or taken by mouth, known as colistin sulfate. Resistance to colistin is beginning to appear as of 2017.

Common side effects of the injectable form include kidney and neurological problems. Other serious side effects may include anaphylaxis, muscle weakness, and Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. The inhaled form may result in constriction of the bronchioles. It is unclear if use during pregnancy is safe for the baby. Colistin is in the polymyxin class of medications. It works by breaking down the cytoplasmic membrane which generally results in bacterial cell death.

Colistin was discovered in 1947 and colistimethate sodium was approved for medical use in the United States in 1970. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. It is available as a generic medication. Dosing is complicated and inconsistent. In the United Kingdom it costs the NHS £18 for 10 vials of the injectable form (1 million units in each vial) as of 2021. In the United States the dose is expressed as 'Colistin base' 150mg and costs about US$24 as of 2019. It is derived from bacteria of the Paenibacillus type.