Therapeutic action
- Aminoglycoside antibacterial
Indications
- Severe bacterial infections: plague, septicaemia, meningitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, postpartum upper genital tract infections, brucellosis, etc., in combination with other antibacterials
Forms and strengths, route of administration
- 10 mg in 1 ml ampoule(10 mg/ml) and 80 mg in 2 ml ampoule(40 mg/ml) for IM or slow IV injection(3 minutes) or IV infusion(30 minutes) in 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% glucose
Dosage
Meningitis in young children,in combination with ampicillin or cloxacillin
- Neonate:
- 0 to 7 days (< 2 kg): 3 mg/kg once daily by IV injection or infusion
- 0 to 7 days (≥ 2 kg): 5 mg/kg once daily by IV injection or infusion
- 8 days to < 1 month: 5 mg/kg once daily by IV injection or infusion
- Child 1 to 3 months: 2.5 mg/kg every 8 hours by IV injection or infusion
Other severe bacterial infections
- Neonate : as above
- Child 1 month and over: 4.5 to 7.5 mg/kg once daily
- Adult: 5 to 6 mg/kg once daily
For administration by IV infusion, dilute each dose of gentamicin in 5 ml/kg of 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% glucose in children less than 20 kg and in a bag of 100 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% glucose in children 20 kg and over and in adults.
Duration
- Plague: 10 to 14 days
- Other infections: according to indication and clinical response
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer to patients with allergy to aminoglycosides.
- Administer with caution to patients with history of renal, vestibular or auditory problems.
- Reduce dosage in patients with renal impairment.
- May cause: irreversible ototoxicity (vestibular and auditory damage), nephrotoxicity, neuropathy, paraesthesia, neuromuscular blockade; rarely, allergic reactions.
- Stop treatment in the event of dizziness, tinnitus or hearing loss (ototoxicity).
- Do not combine with another aminoglycoside.
- Avoid or monitor combination with: furosemide, amphotericin B, vancomycin (enhancedrenal and/or auditorytoxicity); neuromuscular blockers(increased neuromuscular blockage).
- Pregnancy: administer only if clearly needed (risk of fetal ototoxicity).
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication
Remarks
- Do not mix with other drugs in the same syringe or infusion.
Storage
– Below 25 °C