Determination of Neonatal Hearing Loss Related to the Use of Amikacin in Patients with Neonatal Sepsis through Screening with Otoacoustic Emissions in the General Hospital of San Jose Iturbide, Guanajuato, Mexico

Author(s): Oscar Emmanuel Grimaldo, Antonio Rocha Garcia, Daniela Rico Medina, Irma Puga Calderón, Verónica Guarner Lans

Hearing loss is an important problem during childhood, since the intellectual and social development of the child is closely linked to auditory afferences to the central nervous system. The disabling potential of hearing loss depends to a large extent on the precocity with which the diagnosis is made and the time when treatment and rehabilitation is initiated. The evaluation to identify hearing loss in neonates using otoacoustic emissions as a screening method has a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 85%, being ideal in this population group. Here we report a descriptive study on neonatal hypoacusia related to treatment with Amikacin done in the Neonatology Unit of the Department of Pediatrics of the General Hospital, San José Iturbide, Gto during the period comprised from January 2016 to October 2018. Fifty five patients were included who had undergone neonatal sepsis and received Amikacin at a dose of 12 mg / kg / day for a variable number of days (7 to 21) according to medical indication. Auditory screening with Otoacoustic Emissions was performed, observing that in 48/55 cases the test was approved (“approved”), and 7/55 cases did not approve the test (“failed”). In the "failed" group, a second evaluation was made with Otoacoustic Emissions, 3 months later. 7/55 patients were reassessed, finding that 6/55 patients now approved the test while only 1/55 cases failed the test. Therefore, the incidence of neonatal hearing loss associated with Amikacin therapy in patients with neonatal sepsis was of 1/55 cases.