Final answer:
Gentamicin is an antibiotic from the aminoglycoside class used to treat bacterial infections but requires careful monitoring due to its potential for toxicity. It is often used in combination with other antibiotics for enhanced efficacy, particularly for infections involving prosthetic valves or foreign bodies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Gentamicin is an antibiotic used to treat various types of bacterial infections, especially those caused by Gram-negative organisms. It belongs to the aminoglycoside class of antibiotics, which also includes streptomycin and tobramycin. Gentamicin is a potent bactericidal agent that works by binding to the bacterial ribosome and inhibiting protein synthesis, leading to the death of the bacterium.
It is important to monitor gentamicin levels due to its narrow therapeutic range and potential for causing nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity as side effects. Gentamicin should not be taken with other nephrotoxic or ototoxic drugs to minimize the risk of these adverse effects. For systemic bacterial infections, it is often used in combination with other antibiotics for a synergistic effect, which enhances the bactericidal activity. For example, prosthetic-valve endocarditis may be treated with a combination of vancomycin, rifampin, and gentamicin.
In contrast, for the treatment of certain infections like Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC) and Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), gentamicin is not recommended; fluoroquinolones, doxycycline, rifaximin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ) are potential alternatives.