What is Gentamicin good for?

The gentamycin is a derivative of streptomycin antibiotic used for many diseases caused by various bacteria capable of developing serious infections. This drug has an effective mechanism that works quickly against bacteria that can infect the respiratory tract, blood, sinuses, ears, skin, and urinary tract.

It is a drug that can only be given strictly under medical prescription and for well-supported reasons, since it is a powerful antibiotic that could be toxic and cause multiple side effects that directly affect the kidneys and ears. Due to this, the treating physician must follow up the patient throughout the treatment to avoid possible contradictions.

This antibiotic has a broad spectrum that works against infections from sensitive bacteria. There are many trade names that contain the composition of gentamicin and some are combined with other antibiotics for treatments that attack staph and streptococci.

What is gentamicin for

The antibiotic gentamicin is indicated to efficiently eliminate Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria that significantly affect the body. In the same way, it is very useful to be applied in treatments for patients with infections in:

• The skin: due to the formation of acne, burns, boils, dermatitis, stasis ulcers, microbial eczema and infected abrasions.
• Ears, throat and nose: caused by sinusitis, tonsillitis, otitis media and mastoiditis.
• The nervous system: for meningitis, meningoencephalitis and encephalitis.
• The respiratory tract: caused by bronchopneumonia, bronchitis and pleurisy.
• The urinary tract: due to urethritis, cystitis and prostatitis.

Uses of gentamicin cream

This presentation is dosed in 0.1 grams, it is appropriate to treat dermatological problems and body inflammatory processes. The cream or ointment with gentamicin can only be used in pathological treatments of the skin or in external cases and care should be taken not to apply if there are wounds that have exposed tissues.

It is very important, before applying the cream to the affected area, wash your hands well. The area or infection should be completely covered and covered with gauze 3 or 4 times a day until symptoms disappear.

Uses of injectable gentamicin

It is applicable in infections that require urgent action, since there may be a risk of irreparable damage. The injectable presentation of gentamicin, comes in several presentations, this will depend on the needs of the patient.

They can be found in dosages of 20, 40, 80 and up to 240 milligrams, however, the most widely used is 80 milligrams, because it is the one that is best suited to the most frequent bacterial infections in the body.

Uses of gentamicin drops

It is an antibiotic that directly treats ophthalmological infections, helps fight bacteria that reproduce in the superficial part inside the eye and prevents them from reproducing again after a foreign body has been removed, after eye surgery or for having suffered some trauma.

When applying the drops, it is important that they do not come into contact with the affected eye and should be applied at least every 8 hours or as directed by the doctor.

Side effects of gentamicin

As we well know, all antibiotics cause side effects of great significance for the body, therefore these drugs must be prescribed only with the authorization of a doctor, it is the one that can indicate the time and dose that the patient needs to overcome the problem you present. Among the main side effects are applications in the following cases:

Cardiovascular

At this level it causes hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, confusion, encephalopathy, depression, hallucinations, and concussions.

Dermatological

Skin rashes, temporary irritation, ulcerative dermatitis, eye infections and itching.

Blood

It causes anemia, reduced eosinophils, decreased levels of granulocytes and leukocytes, decreased platelets, and decreased reticulocytes.

Hepatic

Bilirubin concentrations, liver inflammation, and increased alkaline phosphatase, dehydrogenase, lactate, and transaminase enzymes.

Gastrointestinal

It produces stomatitis, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, weight loss and constant salivation.

Muscular

Respiratory paralysis, myasthenia due to neuromuscular blockade, inflammation in radiculitis and intra-abdominal affection.

Ophthalmology

Eye pain, visual disturbance, edema, conjunctival hyperemia, severe retinal ischemia, dizziness, vertigo, lack of balance and hearing loss may occur.

Kidneys

In this case, nephritic tubular acidosis, interstitial fibrosis, increased creatine, low urine density, necrosis, presence of pus, microscopic cylindrical formations in the urine and presence of proteins are present.

Respiratory

Serious consequences of respiratory depression.

Systemic

Hypersensitivity, reduced levels of various minerals, laryngeal edema, fever, interstitial nephritis, stomatitis, urticaria, fainting, hypotension, skin rash, and anorexia.

What to keep in mind when treating gentamicin?

• Stop and consult a doctor immediately, if you become pregnant.
• Inform the treating doctor that you take gentamicin, if he prescribes another medicine.
• Treatment should not be restarted on its own initiative, nor should the dose be reduced or increased, nor should treatment be interrupted.
• If, while under treatment of the gentamicin antibiotic, you develop any of the aforementioned side effects, you should urgently call the treating doctor.
• The intake of this medicine should not be overdosed, as this can cause severe effects that could be irrevocable.
• Any questions you have about this drug, it is necessary that you consult your doctor before starting treatment.

Conclusion of the use of gentamicin

Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that goes directly into the bacteria to stop it from growing and completely eradicate its development. This medicine is able to deactivate any infection that contains sensitive and infection-promoting bacteria that are usually serious for the body.

Despite this, care must be taken when undergoing treatment with gentamicin, since it has a high level of toxicity that allows a great variety of negative reactions that can harm health, therefore, it is recommended not to self-medicate and consult the doctor to indicate if the patient’s body is able to withstand this type of medicine