Term
| What classification of antibiotics are the aminoglycosides? |
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Definition
| Narrow-spectrum antibiotics |
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Term
| What pathogen are aminoglycosides used primarily against? |
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Definition
| aerobic gram-negative bacilli |
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Term
| What problems limit the usefulness of the aminoglycosides? |
|
Definition
| ototoxicity and renal toxicity |
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Term
| How are aminoglycosides administered? |
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Definition
|
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Term
| Do aminoglycosides affect the CSF? |
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Definition
| No. They are highly polar (cations) and cannot readily cross membranes |
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Term
| Are the aminoglycosides bacteriostatic or bactericidal? |
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Definition
|
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Term
| What determines the amount of cell kill when using aminoglycosides? |
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Definition
| The concentration of drug. The higher the concentration, the more rapidly the infection will clear. |
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Term
| What are some of the organisms sensitive to aminoglycosides? |
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Definition
| Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pheumoniae, Serratia maracescens, Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa |
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Term
| Which aminoglycoside is used in conjunction with either vancomycin or a beta-lactam antibiotic to treat serious infections with certain gram-positive cocci such as Enterococcus, some streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus? |
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Definition
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Term
| Because aminoglycosides are eliminated by the kidney, what must be done to reduce the risk of serious toxicity? |
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Definition
| Reduce dosage size or increase dosing interval in patients with renal insufficiency |
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Term
| What factor causes ototoxicity with aminoglycosides? |
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Definition
| excessive trough levels cause the drug to be retained in the inner ear cells |
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Term
What is the advantage of employing a penicillin with an aminoglycoside?
What precautions should be taken when using penicillins and aminoglycosides together? |
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Definition
Enhanced bacterial kill
Do not give penicillins and aminoglycosides together in the same IV solution |
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Term
| Why shouldn't aminoglycosides be taken with skeletal muscle relaxants? |
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Definition
| They can intensify neuromuscular blockade and cause respiratory arrest |
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Term
| Why are peak and trough levels particularly important when giving aminoglycosides? |
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Definition
| The peak levels must be high enough to produce bacterial kill, while the trough levels must be low enough to reduce the risk of ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. |
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Term
| Is aminoglycoside related ototoxicity reversible? Is aminoglycoside related nephrotoxicity? |
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Definition
Ototoxicity is irreversible
Nephrotoxicity is reversible |
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Term
| Is the risk of nephrotoxicity dependent on trough levels, or peak levels of aminoglycosides? |
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Definition
| both elevated peak and trough levels increase risk of nephrotoxicity |
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