Aminoglycosides

Question 1

What are the aminoglycosides?

Answer 1

1. Gentamicin (gentak): on chart
2. Tobramycin (tobrex): on chart
3. Amikacin
4. Streptomycin

Question 2

What are the routes of administration for aminoglycosides?

Answer 2

1. Gentamicin (gentak): IV
2. Tobramycin (tobrex): IV
3. Amikacin: IV
4. Streptomycin: IM

Question 3

What is the MOA for the aminoglycosides?

Answer 3

1. bind to the 30S subunit of bacterial ribosomes and interfere with an initiation complex between mRNA and the 30S subunit, inhibiting protein synthesis
2. Oxygen-dependent, active transport across the bacterial cell membrane

Question 4

What gram positive bacteria are aminoglycosides effective against?

Answer 4

1. Enterococci: NEVER as monotherapy

Question 5

What gram negative bacteria are aminoglycosides effective against?

Answer 5

1. Enterobacteriaceae

2. Pseudomonas

Question 6

What anaerobic bacteria are aminoglycosides effective against?

Answer 6

NONE

Question 7

What are the clinical indications for aminoglycosides?

Answer 7

1. Initial therapy for gram negative sepsis
2. UTI
3. Combo therapy for ampicillin or vancomycin for severe enterococcal infections
4. Combo therapy with PCN for viridians group strep endocarditis

Question 8

What are the se for aminoglycosides?

Answer 8

1. Nephrotoxicity
2. Ototoxicity, esp with loop diuretics
3. Neuromuscular blockage: rare