Acute renal failure caused by polymyxin B containing ointment.

A case is presented in which a 67-year-old man suffering from non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, after being treated with polymyxin B containing ointment for leg ulcers, developed acute renal failure. After a period of 13 days during which the patient was treated with peritoneal dialysis 5 times, renal function returned. At discharge creatinine-clearance was 12 ml/min. Treating large ulcers with polymyxin B may be dangerous.