What it means
An antibiotican-tee-by-OT-ikA drug that kills bacteria or stops them from growing.anti- againstbi/o life-ic relating toFull entry that kills many gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas. IV doses treat serious infections; the inhaled form is used long term in cystic fibrosis; eye drops treat eye infections. Like other aminoglycosides it can damage the kidneys and the inner ear (hearing and balance).
For the nurse
For IV doses, peak and trough blood levels guide the dose; check creatinine and urine output. Ask about ringing in the ears, hearing loss or dizziness.
At a glance
| Drug class | aminoglycoside antibiotic |
|---|---|
| Brand names | TOBI, Bethkis, Kitabis Pak (inhaled); Tobrex (eye) |
| Also written | TOBI, Bethkis, Tobrex |
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.
streptomycin
An aminoglycoside antibiotic given by injection, used mainly for tuberculosis and a few rare infections.
neomycin
An aminoglycoside antibiotic used by mouth to reduce gut bacteria and on the skin in antibiotic ointments.