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Nasal Disease Handbook

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Bloody Noses

Common Cold

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Environmental Control for Allergy

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Nasal Tip Infection

Rhinitis - Allergic

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Sinusitis - Chronic

The Aging Nose

The Crusty Nose

Tobramycin

Tonsillitis with Halitosis

TOBRAMYCIN

In some cases, patients will be advised to irrigate with an antibiotic called Tobramycin.  The Tobramycin bottles will require prescriptions, typically as Tobramycin 80 mg./2cc., dispense 10 vials.  Appropriate syringes will be given to you by the nursing staff.  Using a syringe, draw up to 1/2 cc. (20 mg.) of Tobramycin.  This is added to the last 20 or 50 cc. (2 oz.) of fluid in the bowl.  Irrigate the first half  of this through your right nostril, and the second half through your left nostril.  Stronger concentrations may cause nasal irritation.  Weaker concentrations may not deliver as much antibiotic as would be ideal. 

Tap water is generally sterile, and so infection has not been a problem.  By the same token, the Tobramycin in the syringes will keep the syringes sterile, so they can be reused for up to ten treatments.

If Tobramycin is not covered by your insurance company or is not available to you, Gentomycin can be used as an antibiotic.  The same final concentration, namely 20mg in 20-50cc of nasal irrigant is recommended.