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Polymyxin B Versus Colistin: An Update

Polymyxin B Versus Colistin: An Update

Yiying Cai, Winnie Lee, Andrea L Kwa

Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2015;13(12):1481-97.

PMID: 26488563

Abstract:

Polymyxin B and colistin (polymyxin E) are polypeptide antibiotics that were developed in the 1940s, but fell into disfavor due to their high toxicity rates. These two antibiotics were previously regarded to be largely equivalent, due to similarities in their chemical structure and spectrum of activity. In recent years, several pertinent differences, especially in terms of potency and disposition, have been revealed between polymyxin B and colistin. These differences are mainly attributed to the fact that polymyxin B is administered parenterally in its active form, while colistin is administered parenterally as an inactive pro-drug, colistimethate. In this review, we summarize the similarities and differences between polymyxin B and colistin. We also discuss the potential clinical implications of these findings, and provide our perspectives on how polymyxins should be employed to preserve their utility in this era of multi-drug resistance.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	CAS Number	Price
AP8068288-A	Colistimethate Sodium		8068-28-8	Price

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