II. Indications

  1. Gram Negative Infections

III. Mechanism

IV. Precautions

  1. Administer IV dose over 1 hour
  2. Adjust dosing per kinetics if >1-2 days use
  3. Aminoglycosides are associated with risk of Ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity (FDA black box warning)

V. Dosing: Adults and Children

  1. See Bacterial Conjunctivitis
  2. Adult
    1. Gentamicin 3 to 5 mg/kg/day divided every 8 hours IV or IM (FDA approved) OR
    2. Gentamicin 5 to 7 mg/kg/dose IV every 24 hours (off label)
  3. Child (age >1 month old, weight >2 kg)
    1. Gentamicin 2 to 2.5 mg/kg/dose IV or IM every 8 hours (FDA approved) OR
    2. Gentamicin 5 to 7 mg/kg/dose IV every 24 hours (off label)
  4. Obesity
    1. Base dose on average between the Ideal Body Weight and actual weight

VI. Dosing: Infants

  1. See other references for preterm and Low Birth Weight Infants
  2. Term Infant (age <1 week, weight >2 kg)
    1. Gentamicin 2.5 mg/kg/dose IV or IM every 8 hours (FDA approved) OR
    2. Gentamicin 4 mg/kg IV every 24 hours (off-label)
  3. Term Infant (age 8 to 28 days, weight >2 kg)
    1. Gentamicin 2 to 2.5 mg/kg/dose IV or IM every 8 hours (FDA approved) OR
    2. Gentamicin 4 to 5 mg/kg IV every 24 hours (off-label)

VII. Pharmacokinetics

  1. Target levels for multiple daily dosing
    1. Maintain Trough <2 mcg/ml
      1. Drawn immediately before next dose
    2. Maintain Peak at 5 to 8 mcg/ml in adults (4 to 6 mcg/ml for child)
      1. Draw 1 hour after Intramuscular dose
  2. Target levels for once daily dosing
    1. Maintain peak level 15 to 20 mcg/ml
    2. Maintain trough level <1 mcg/ml
  3. Indications for drug levels followed by Pharmacist
    1. See Aminoglycoside for Nephrotoxicity Risk factors
    2. Aminoglycoside use over 3 days
    3. Renal dysfunction
    4. Burn Injury

VIII. Adverse Effects

  1. See Aminoglycoside
  2. Aminoglycosides are associated with risk of Ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity (FDA black box warning)
    1. See Aminoglycoside for risk factors

IX. Safety

  1. Pregnancy Category D
  2. Considered safe in Lactation

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Related Studies

Cost: Medications

gentamicin (on 12/21/2022 at Medicaid.Gov Survey of pharmacy drug pricing)
GENTAMICIN 0.1% CREAM Generic $1.07 per gram
GENTAMICIN 0.1% OINTMENT Generic $1.22 per gram
GENTAMICIN 0.3% EYE DROP Generic $0.72 per ml