Genetically screening patients before they have antibiotics may prevent hearing loss

Some patients, particularly young children, may be born with a genetic mutation which means they are at risk of hearing loss after taken antibiotics called aminoglycosides.  There is now a drive to consider screening patients for the genetic mutation known as m.1555A-G which is held in around 1 in 1,611 newborns in the USA, 1 in 206 newborns in New Zealand and 1 in 40,000 newborns in the UK.

Aminoglycosides are valuable antibiotics used for serious infections such as complicated urinary tract infections, TB and septicemia.  They are known to potentially cause damage to the ear – otoxicity. Individuals holding the mutation have an inherited predisposition which makes them extremely sensitive to the effects – they can end up with severe and permanent hearing loss.

It is estimated to cost US$122,000 for every child who becomes deaf plus another US$36,000 in educational costs. US estimates have placed the lifetime cost to society for a child who loses their hearing before language development at US$1 million.

The cost of this simple test to ascertain whether a person holds the gene  –  US $70!

Elaine Warburton