Gentamicin

Question 1

Drug class?

Answer 1

Aminoglycosides

Question 2

How does it work?

Answer 2

• Bactericidal Abx

- Inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by binding irreversibly to 30s subunit of bacterial ribosomes

Question 3

Indications?

Answer 3

• Active against many strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens.
• Escherichia, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Serratia, Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus, some Proteus and against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• Gentamicin is effective against penicillin-resistant Staphylococci, but rarely effective against Streptococci.

Question 4

Contra-indications?

Answer 4

• Myasthenia gravis

- Pregnancy (can cross placenta and damage foetal CNVIII)

Question 5

Side-effects?

Answer 5

Hypersensitivity reaction

Rarely: nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity (CNVIII damage)

Question 6

Possible interactions?

Answer 6

• Cyclosporin: potentiates nephrotoxic effects

- Loop diuretics: potentiate nephrotoxic/ototoxic effects