Aminoglycoside Nephrotoxicity:

Fathy Abd El-moname

The aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamicin, tobramycin,amikacin and netilmicin) are widely prescribed in clinicalmedicine to treat serious infections (Bennett et al., 1982).Nephrotoxicity is a major adverse effect of aminoglycosideantibiotic agents.This is a comparative study of nephrotoxicity of thesedrugs in the hope that we can choose or recommend the best.This study was conducted upon 35 patients divided into 4groups according to the aminoglycoside used.Blood urea and serum creatinine were measured beforetreatment and on the third, sixth and tenth day of the treatment.Creatinine clearance was measured before treatment andon the tenth day of the treatment.In this study, we found no wide variations in nephrotoxicitybetween these aminoglycosides. The nephrotoxicityof aminoglycosides is preventable and reversible.So, we advise1J Adjusting the dose to be the minimal of therapeutic effect.2J Adjusting the duration of treatment not to exceed ten days.3J Patients should be well hydrated during therapy.4J Monitoring the nephrotoxicity of the patient by measuringserum creatinine on third day and toxicity must be consideredif it exceeds 31%.