What it means
A strong antibiotic from the aminoglycosideuh-mee-noh-GLY-koh-sideA group of strong antibiotics, mostly given by IV or injection, that kill many gram-negative bacteria.Full entry class, used for serious infections with gram-negative bacteria and, with other antibiotics, for some heart valve infections. It can damage the kidneys (nephrotoxicity) and the inner ear (ototoxicity), causing hearing loss, ringing in the ears or poor balance. Because the safe dose range is narrow, blood levels are checked with peak and trough levelsPEEK and TROF LEV-ulzBlood tests of a drug's highest level after a dose (peak) and its lowest level just before the next dose (trough).Full entry .
For the nurse
Check kidney function (creatinine, BUN, urine output) and ask about hearing changes, ringing in the ears or dizziness, and report them. Draw trough levels just before a dose and peak levels at the ordered time after it. Older adults and clients taking other kidney-harming drugs or loop diuretics are at higher risk.
In a chart
"Gentamicin dose held; trough level drawn at 0745 and called to pharmacy before the 0800 dose."
At a glance
| Drug class | aminoglycoside antibiotic |
|---|---|
| Brand names | Garamycin (older brand; most US supply is generic) |
| Spanish | gentamicina |
| Also written | Garamycin |
Related terms
antibiotic
A drug that kills bacteria or stops them from growing.
creatinine
A waste product of muscle that the kidneys remove from the blood; its blood level is used to measure how well the kidneys work.
aminoglycoside
A group of strong antibiotics, mostly given by IV or injection, that kill many gram-negative bacteria.
peak and trough levels
Blood tests of a drug's highest level after a dose (peak) and its lowest level just before the next dose (trough).