Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41779724›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Clinical outcomes with lower versus conventional dose polymyxin B regimens in dialysis dependent and non-dialysis patients with gram-negative sepsis: A real-world propensity-score matched cohort study.

Asha K Rajan, Vishal Shanbhag, Vijayanarayana Kunhikatta, Ravindra Prabhu Attur, Beven Nelson, Varun Kumar S G, Souvik Chaudhuri, Girish Thunga

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Asha K RajanDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Vishal ShanbhagDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5255-6148
Vijayanarayana KunhikattaDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Ravindra Prabhu AtturDepartment of Nephrology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Beven NelsonDepartment of Applied Statistics and Data Sciences, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Varun Kumar S GDepartment of Applied Statistics and Data Sciences, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Souvik ChaudhuriDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
Girish ThungaDepartment of Pharmacy Practice, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1257-969X

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPolymyxin B remains a key treatment option for infections caused by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli, particularly in critically ill patients. However, its optimal dosing strategy recommendation remains uncertain, especially in those undergoing renal replacement therapy. This study aimed to compare the clinical and microbiological outcomes of low, usual and high dose polymyxin B in a real-world ICU population.

methodsThis 5-year retrospective cohort study included critically ill adult patients with gram-negative sepsis who received polymyxin B. Patients were categorized into low-, usual- and high-dose groups based on loading and total daily maintenance dose. Pairwise propensity score matching was performed to adjust for baseline differences. Primary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included microbiological clearance, ventilator-free days, ICU-free days, and vasopressor-free days. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted, including within patients requiring dialysis. All the statistical analysis was performed using R software.

resultsA total of 674 patients were included. After matching, usual-dose polymyxin B (61%) was associated with significantly higher 28-day mortality compared to the low-dose group (48.04%) (HR = 1.47;95% CI:[1.11-1.95];p = 0.007). Vasopressor, ventilator and ICU-free days were also significantly higher in the low-dose group were compared to the other groups. No significant survival advantage was observed with high-dose regimens. Among dialysis-dependent patients (n = 254), mortality did not differ significantly across dosing groups, though microbiological clearance was better with low dosing. Sensitivity and subgroup analysis also supported the results to be robust.

conclusionLow dose polymyxin B regimens were associated with lower mortality and comparable clinical outcomes compared to higher doses and may be feasible in critically ill patients with renal impairment. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously given the observational design and residual confounding, warranting confirmation in future randomized trials.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsGram-Negative Bacterial InfectionsPolymyxin BRenal DialysisSepsisAgedCritical IllnessDose-Response Relationship, DrugFemaleHumansIntensive Care UnitsMaleMiddle AgedPropensity ScoreRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAnti-Bacterial AgentsPolymyxin B

Identifiers

PMID41779724
PMCPMC12959684

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.