GENTAMICIN

Question 1

Drug class

Answer 1

aminoglycoside

Question 2

What type of bacteria does it work on?

Answer 2

gram negative aerobes e.g. pseudomonas aeruginosa

Question 3

How does it work? (3)

Answer 3

• binds irreversibly to bacterial ribosomes
• and inhibits protein synthesis
• kills bacteria -bacteriacidal

Question 4

How does gentamicin enter the gram negative aerobic bacteria?

Answer 4

via the oxygen dependent transport system

Question 5

Inidcations (3)

Answer 5

1. sepsis

• severe
• bilary
• intra-abdominal

2. kidneys

• pyelonephritis
• complicated UTI

3. heart
   - endocarditis

Question 6

Contra-indications (2)

Answer 6

1. RENAL, COCHLEAR AND VESTIBULAR DAMAGE

• elderly
• neonates
• renal impaired

2. IMPAIRS NEUROMUSCULAR TRANSMISSION
   - Myasthenia gravis

Question 7

Side effects (2)

Answer 7

1. ototoxicity

2. nephrotoxicity

Question 8

Interactions (2, 4)

Answer 8

1. otoxicity

• furosemide
• vancomycin

2. nephrotoxicity

• ciclosporin
• platinum chemotherapy
• cephalosporins
• vancomycin

Question 9

Elimination

Answer 9

urine