Clinical Significance

Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic used in the treatment of infections caused by E. coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and other microorganisms.

Gentamicin’s toxic effect is produced by interfering with ribosomal protein synthesis. Gentamicin undergoes very little, if any, metabolization and is, therefore, eliminated as the parent drug by glomerular filtration. The therapeutic range should be measured at peak as well as trough concentrations. Peak serum or plasma concentrations of gentamicin are suggested to ensure that adequate antimicrobial activity is obtained. Trough gentamicin concentrations usually ensure that drug elimination is adequate, and the drug concentration is above minimum inhibitory concentration. Serum or plasma gentamicin concentration is impacted by mode of administration, the volume of extracellular fluid, the duration of the treatment and physiological changes during the illness and therapy. Therefore, monitoring of peak and trough gentamicin serum or plasma levels is critical in the prevention of these serious complications with the adjustment of dosage administration as indicated. 

_{Source: Roche Cobas GENTC Method Sheet Version 2.0 2022-09}