Gentamicin injectable
Injectable gentamicin guidance for severe bacterial infections, with renal and auditory toxicity precautions.
Therapeutic action
Aminoglycoside antibacterial.
Indications
Severe bacterial infections such as plague, septicaemia, meningitis, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, postpartum upper genital tract infections, brucellosis, and others, in combination with other antibacterials.
Forms and strengths, route of administration
For administration by IV infusion, dilute each dose in 5 ml/kg of 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% glucose in children less than 20 kg and in a bag of 100 ml in children 20 kg and over and in adults.
- 10 mg in 1 ml ampoule and 80 mg in 2 ml ampoule, for IM or slow IV injection or IV infusion in 0.9% sodium chloride or 5% glucose.
Dose
Meningitis in young children, in combination with ampicillin or cloxacillin
- Neonate 0 to 7 days under 2 kg: 3 mg/kg once daily by IV injection or infusion.
- Neonate 0 to 7 days 2 kg and over: 5 mg/kg once daily by IV injection or infusion.
- Neonate 8 days to under 1 month: 5 mg/kg once daily by IV injection or infusion.
- Child 1 to 3 months: 2.5 mg/kg every 8 hours by IV injection or infusion.
Other severe bacterial infections
- Neonate: as above.
- Child 1 month and over: 4.5 to 7.5 mg/kg once daily.
- Adult: 5 to 6 mg/kg once daily.
Duration
- Plague: 10 to 14 days.
- Other infections: according to indication and clinical response.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
Given the risk of renal and auditory toxicity, do not prolong treatment unnecessarily.
- Do not administer to patients with allergy to aminoglycosides.
- Administer with caution to patients with history of renal, vestibular, or auditory problems.
- Reduce dosage in patients with renal impairment.
- May cause irreversible ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neuropathy, paraesthesia, neuromuscular blockade, and rarely allergic reactions.
- Stop treatment in the event of dizziness, tinnitus, or hearing loss.
- Do not combine with another aminoglycoside.
- Avoid or monitor combination with furosemide, amphotericin B, vancomycin, and neuromuscular blockers.
- Pregnancy: administer only if clearly needed.
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication.
- Do not mix with other drugs in the same syringe or infusion.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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