Generic: Gentamicin Brand Name: Garamycin

(ungt)
Classification: Therapeutic: Anti-infectives
Pharmacologic: aminoglycosides
Therapeutic: Treatment of serious gram-negative bacterial infections and infections caused by staphylococci when
penicillin’s or other less toxic drugs are contraindicated.

Action: Gentamicin alters (inhibits) changes bacteria's production (synthesis) of protein necessary for its survival. It causes the
bacteria to produce abnormal/faulty proteins. This ultimately kills the bacteria and clears up the infection.

Safe dosage: ½- in. strip every 8-12 hour

Onset: N/A Peak: N/A Duration: N/A

Patient teaching: Instruct patient to wash hands and clean the area around the eye before applying medication

Adverse reactions: Irritation, headache, decrease in visual acuity, taste disturbance.

Precautions: N/A

Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to aminoglycosides.

Interactions: Inactivated by penicillin’s and cephalosporins
Nursing Implications: Assess for infection (vital signs, wound appearance, sputum, urine, stool, WBC) at beginning of and
throughout therapy.

Why this patient takes this medication: To treat the localized infection caused by susceptible organisms.

Reference: Vallerand, A.H., Sanoski, C.A., & Deglin, J.H, (2019). Davis’s drug guide for nurses, e-book. (16 th ed.).
Philadelphia. PA: F.A. Davis Company. Page: 139-140 and 1399.

May 14, 2019