II. Indications
- Activity
- Aerobic and facultative Gram Negative Rods
 - NO anaerobic activity
- Aminoglycosides require oxygen for active transport into Bacterial cells
 
 
 - Organisms
 
III. Mechanism
- 
                          Anti-Ribosomal Antibiotic (Bactericidal, Protein Synthesis Inhibitor)
- Aminoglycosides undergo oxygen dependent active transport into the Bacterial cytoplasm where they concentrate
- Aminoglycosides are potentiated by Beta Lactams which break down Bacterial cell walls
 
 - Binds 70s Bacterial ribosome at the interface between its 30s and 50s subunits
 - Results in mis-reading of Bacterial mRNA and defective Bacterial Proteins
 
 - Aminoglycosides undergo oxygen dependent active transport into the Bacterial cytoplasm where they concentrate
 - Antibiotic Resistance mechanisms
 
IV. Medications: Actively Used Systemic Antibiotics
- 
                          Amikacin
                          
- Broadest Gram Negative Bacteria spectrum of the Aminoglycosides (including Pseudomonas)
 
 - 
                          Gentamicin
                          
- Most commonly used of the Aminoglycosides
 
 - Plazomycin
- Used in complicated, drug-resistant Urinary Tract Infection (Enterobacteriaceae, ESBL, CRE)
 
 - 
                          Streptomycin
                          
- Oldest of the Aminoglycosides (and significant Antibiotic Resistance has developed)
 
 - 
                          Tobramycin
                          
- Antipseudomonal coverage
 - Used systemically and in nebulized form in Cystic Fibrosis
 - Used topically in complicated Bacterial Conjunctivitis
 
 
V. Medications: Other
- Neomycin
- Topical Antibiotic use only (toxic when used systemically)
 - Neomycin is found in Cortisporin Otic Suspension and triple Antibiotic ointment
 
 - Kanamycin
- Kanamycin is not typically used in U.S., however, Amikacin is derived from Kanamycin A
 - Kanamycin is an Antibiotic complex extracted from Streptomyces kanamyceticus (found in Japanese soil)
 - Kanamycin complex has three components (A, B, C) of which only Kanamycin A has significant medical use
 
 
VI. Pharmacokinetics
- Renal excretion unchanged in urine
 - Not distributed to the eye or Central Nervous System
 - 
                          Parenteral use, inhaled (Tobramycin in CF) or topical use (otic Antibiotics, Ophthalmic Antibiotics)
- Aminoglycosides have no significant oral Bioavailability (other than Kanamycin)
 
 
VII. Adverse Effects
- Nephrotoxicity
- See risk factors below
 
 - 
                          Ototoxicity
                          
- Risk of permanent Deafness
 - With higher Aminoglycoside peak concentrations
 - Increased risk in Mitochondrial DNA mutations (e.g. m.1555A>G)
 
 - 
                          Neuromuscular Blockade (rare)
- May increase Neuromuscular Blocker effect
 - May exacerbate Myasthenia Gravis
 
 
VIII. Risk Factors: Nephrotoxicity
- Advanced age
 - Prior Renal Insufficiency
 - Dehydration
 - Hypokalemia
 - Hypomagnesemia
 - Liver disease
 - Sepsis
 - 
                          Drug Interactions with other nephrotoxic medications
- Cephalothin (Keflin) and other Cephalosporins
 - Cyclosporin A
 - Cisplatin
 - NSAIDS
 - ACE Inhibitors
 - Methoxyflurane
 - Loop Diuretics
 - Amino Acids
 
 
IX. References
- Olson (2020) Clinical Pharmacology, Medmaster Miami, p. 112-3
 - Block (2023) Aminoglycosides, StatPearls, Treasure Island, Fl