What is Colomycin?
Colomycin is an antibiotic. This can only be taken via a nebuliser. A nebuliser is a machine that will allow the medication to be delivered straight to your lungs via a simple face mask. This will be demonstrated to you when you are started on this treatment. You are taking this antibiotic solution straight into your lungs in an attempt to control bacteria found to be growing in your sputum/phlegm. This may help to reduce the number of chest infections you develop.
Will this affect my other medication?
The nebulised antibiotic is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream and therefore will not affect any other medication taken.
Are there any side effects?
Some people may have a reaction to taking the antibiotic, which is why you will have had an assessment prior to starting the Colomycin at home. If you develop any side effects whilst taking the drug at home you should inform your GP or you Respiratory Team on 0191 445 6035.
If you develop a tight chest, wheeze or difficulty breathing then take your usual ventolin (Salbutamol) and contact your GP or 111 urgently. If this does not improve with Salbutamol, go to the accident and emergency department at your local hospital.
How long will I have to take the antibiotic?
If the antibiotic does not cause side effects, your consultant may want to continue it for at least 3 months. Further sputum testing will be done to see if the infection is still present. It may not be completely eradicated and you may require to stay on this treatment for a longer period.
Are there any procedures I need to do prior to treatment?
You should attempt to clear your lungs of sputum/phlegm prior to taking the nebulised antibiotic. If you have never been shown any techniques or you feel that you are struggling to clear your sputum then please ask your Respiratory Nurse about a referral to a Respiratory Physiotherapist.
Equipment needed:
2.5mg/2.5mls Salbutamol
2.5 mls of sterile water (pre packed individual plastic vials)
1 vial of Colomycin powder (1 mega unit)
Procedure for salbutamol nebuliser
- Twist off lid from 1 salbutamol nebule.
- Pour entire contents of the nebule into your usual nebuliser chamber. This part of the process does not require a filter.
- Switch on nebuliser and allow 5 minutes for this to be fully nebulised, you will recognise this as there will be more vapour.
- Wait for 10 minutes before administering the colomycin, but you can start preparing it in this time.
Procedure for colomycin
- Twist lid off plastic vial of water.
- Flip up and tear off the top of the vial of colomycin powder. Removing the red bung, squeeze the 2.5mls of the water. Replace the bung.
- Gently tilt the colomycin from side to side until the powder has dissolved, then leave to settle. Do not shake excessively as this will make the solution very frothy and it will be more difficult to go through nebuliser.
- You can prepare both of the day’s doses in the morning and leave the PM dose in the fridge. Do not prepare more than one days’ worth of doses at a time. Once mixed the drug should not be stored for more than 12 hours.
- Pour into the nebuliser chamber.
- To prevent the escape of antibiotics into the surrounding environment, attach the filter housing with the filter pad to the outflow tract of the nebuliser.
- Attach the nebuliser to the compressor with the tubing, and switch on. Hold the nebuliser unit level and breathe normally in and out through the mouthpiece. This will take approximately 5 minutes
- When the nebuliser has finished, take it apart, dispose of the filter pad, and wash the remaining parts in hot soapy water and rinse. Leave the parts on kitchen paper to dry. Re-assemble the nebuliser immediately prior to your next use.
Is there any special care for this equipment?
The nebuliser chamber should be washed in hot soapy water after each use and allowed to dry before reassembling. If you are using the filters then these should be changed after each use. Alternatively, you may vent the exhaled air outside via tubing. You will be shown how to do this at your initial assessment.
Once at home, you will need to get a repeat prescription from your GP, for the Colomycin and water, as well as prescription for salbutamol. The nebuliser chamber should be sterilised once a week to help prevent infection. Place all parts in a saucepan with a few drops of washing up liquid, and then boil for ten minutes. The nebuliser chamber should last for a year if it is cleaned as instructed. However you may need to exchange this regularly depending on the type of nebuliser kit you receive.
Who will monitor my treatment/progress?
The consultant and respiratory nursing team who prescribed this treatment will monitor your progress.
Your GP will monitor your general health, report any adverse reactions that may occur and provide further prescriptions of Colomycin, Salbutamol and water. If you live in Washington, please contact the respiratory nurse team as your GP will not be able to do further prescriptions of colomycin.
If you have any concerns please call:
Respiratory Nursing Team
Respiratory Nursing Team
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Gateshead
7 days a week
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