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Gentamicin
Other Names
gentamicin sulfate
Drug Class
Antibacterials (Aminoglycosides)
 

What is gentamicin? What is gentamicin?

What is gentamicin?

Gentamicin is an antibacterial prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of several bacterial infections, such as meningitis, infection of the blood, and serious urinary tract infections.

Some bacterial infections can be opportunistic infections (OIs) of HIV. An OI is an infection that occurs more frequently or is more severe in people with weakened immune systems—such as people with HIV—than in people with healthy immune systems. To learn more about OIs, read the HIVinfo What is an Opportunistic Infection? fact sheet.

How is gentamicin used in people with HIV? How is gentamicin used in people with HIV?

How is gentamicin used in people with HIV?

The Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents With HIV include recommendations on the use of gentamicin in people with HIV to treat endocarditis (a type of heart infection) caused by the bacteria Bartonella (also called bartonellosis).

The recommended uses may not always be consistent with FDA-approved uses of gentamicin. See the Guidelines for complete information on recommended uses of gentamicin in adults and adolescents with HIV. Gentamicin may have other recommended uses not listed above.

What should I tell my health care provider before using gentamicin? What should I tell my health care provider before using gentamicin?

What should I tell my health care provider before using gentamicin?

Before using gentamicin, tell your health care provider:

  • If you are allergic to gentamicin, aminoglycoside antibiotics, sulfites, or any other medicines.
  • About any medical conditions you have or have had, including:
    • Kidney problems
    • Nerve or muscle disorders, such as myasthenia gravis or Parkinson’s disease
    • Low magnesium, calcium, sodium or potassium
    • Asthma
    • Dehydration
  • About any health conditions that may prevent you from receiving medicine by injection or infusion.
  • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Aminoglycosides (the antibacterial drug class that gentamicin belongs to) can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits of using gentamicin during pregnancy. The Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents with HIV may include other recommendations on the use of gentamicin during pregnancy. Please refer to these guidelines for additional information.
  • If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. For mothers with HIV in the United States, the Guideline recommends speaking with your health care provider to discuss options for feeding your baby. Mothers with suppressed viral load have a less than 1% chance of transmitting HIV to their baby via their own milk. Although most medicines are safe to use while breastfeeding, some medicines should be avoided. Always let your health care provider know about all the medicines and supplements you are using before you start breastfeeding.
  • About other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Gentamicin may affect the way other medicines or products work, and other medicines or products may affect how gentamicin works. Ask your health care provider if there are interactions between gentamicin and the other medicines you take.

How should I use gentamicin? How should I use gentamicin?

How should I use gentamicin?

Gentamicin injection may be administered by a health care provider in a hospital or clinic. Some people may use gentamicin injection at home. If you use gentamicin at home, your health care provider will teach you how to use the medicine. It is important that you use gentamicin exactly as your health care provider has instructed. If you do not understand how to use gentamicin, ask your health care provider.

It is important to complete the full prescribed course of treatment with gentamicin, even if you begin to feel better. If you stop using gentamicin too soon or skip doses, your infection may not be fully treated, and the bacteria may become harder to treat (resistant).

What side effects can gentamicin cause? What side effects can gentamicin cause?

What side effects can gentamicin cause?

Gentamicin may cause side effects that can be mild or serious. To learn about possible side effects of gentamicin, see the FDA drug label or talk to your health care provider or pharmacist. Tell your health care professional if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. Your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some side effects.

You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or online.

How should gentamicin be stored? How should gentamicin be stored?

How should gentamicin be stored?

  • Store vials of gentamicin injection solution at room temperature, 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
  • Do not use gentamicin if the original seal over the container opening is broken or missing.
  • Throw away gentamicin that is no longer needed or expired (out of date).
  • Follow FDA guidelines on how to safely dispose of unused medicine.
  • Keep gentamicin and all medicines out of reach of children.

Where can I find more information about gentamicin? Where can I find more information about gentamicin?

Where can I find more information about gentamicin?

 

 

 

Last Reviewed: February 3, 2025