Aminoglycosides

Question 1

What are they indicated for?

Answer 1

Systemic aminoglycosides (gentamicin, amikacin) are used to treat severe infections

Sepsis

Pyelonephritis and complicated UTI

Intraabdominal infection.

Endocarditis.

Topical neomycin is an option for otitis externa.

Question 2

What microbes are they most effective with?

Answer 2

Gram-negative aerobic bacteria

Question 3

How do they work?

Answer 3

It binds irreversibly to bacterial ribosomes and inhibit protein synthesis

Question 4

What side effects occur with these drugs?

Answer 4

Nephrotoxicity
Ototoxicity- hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo

Question 5

What are the warnings of these drugs?

Answer 5

Caution in neonates, older people and those with renal impairment

Do not give with people with myasthenia gravis

Question 6

What interactions cause with these drugs?

Answer 6

Ototoxicity and Nephrotoxicity more likely when given with loop diuretics or glycopeptide antibiotics

Nephrotoxicity more likely with cephalosporins, NSAIDs and other nephrotoxic drugs

Question 7

What are the names of these drugs?

Answer 7

gentamicin, amikacin, neomycin