• M J Asmus, G Milavetz, A L Tice, and M E Teresi.
• College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainsville, USA.
• Pharmacotherapy. 2001 May 1;21(5):534-9.

Study ObjectiveTo compare the in vitro performance of an ultrasonic nebulizer and a jet nebulizer in producing a respirable aerosol of tobramycin solution for injection.DesignIn vitro observational studyDevicesUltrasonic and jet nebulizers.InterventionOutput was determined by measuring the difference in nebulizer weight before and after nebulizing 3 ml of tobramycin injection solution. Mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and respirable mass were determined by sampling tobramycin aerosol into a cascade impactor.Measurements And Main ResultsMean (SD) output was 1.14 (0.09) ml/minute for the ultrasonic nebulizer and 0.64 (0.08) ml/minute (p<0.001) for the jet nebulizer. Mean MMAD for the jet nebulizer (2.31 [0.10] microm) was less than that of the ultrasonic nebulizer (2.81 [0.17] microm, p<0.001). The majority of tobramycin aerosol produced was in the respirable range for both the ultrasonic (65.1% [4.10%]) and jet (60.6% [0.73%], p=0.008) nebulizers.ConclusionDespite small, clinically unimportant differences in aerosol size and respirable fraction, either device would be acceptable to administer tobramycin injection solution.

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