Bacteria they are effective against
They are particularly potent against members of the Enterobacteriaceae family, including:
- Escherichia coli
- Klebsiella pneumoniae and K. oxytoca
- Enterobacter cloacae and E. aerogenes
- Providencia spp.
- Proteus spp.
- Morganella spp.
- Serratia spp.
They are also active against Yersinia pestis and Francisella tularensis, the causative agents of plague and tularemia, respectively.
The class also has good activity against Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-resistant and vancomycin-intermediate and -resistant isolates), P. aeruginosa and, to a lesser extent, Acinetobacter baumannii.
Many Mycobacterium spp. are also susceptible to aminoglycosides including:
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- M. fortuitum
- M. chelonae
- M. avium
The spectrum of activity, rapid bactericidal activity, and favourable chemical and pharmacokinetic properties of aminoglycosides make them a clinically useful class of drugs. Aminoglycosides are used as single agents and in combination with other antibiotics in both empirical and definitive therapy for a broad range of indications.
Optimise Aminoglycoside Use in Clinical Practice
Optimise Aminoglycoside Use in Clinical Practice
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