Aminoglycoside

Aminoglycosides are a broad-spectrum class of antibiotics mostly produced by fungi that are the standard treatment for serious infections caused by Gram-negative aerobic bacteria. They contain an amino sugar and amino- or guanido-substituted inositol rings attached to hexose by a glycosidic bond. The most commonly used aminoglycosides include streptomycin, gentamicin, neomicin, netilmicin, amikacin, kanamycin, framycetin and tobramycin. Although they can be used to treat Gram-postive bacteria, other treatments are favored. They are generally not effective against anaerobic bacteria, fungi and viruses. Nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity are associated with their use. Their activity is based on their irreversible binding to the 16S rRNA of the 30S ribosomal subunit.