Free preview
MD Pharmacology NMC syllabus ~5 min read Recent advances last updated on 2026-05-28

Aminoglycosides

Mechanism, Pharmacokinetics, Resistance & Clinical Use

Past RGUHS + MPMSU + MUHS · 10 MPMSUJan '25 RGUHSNov '21 MUHSSummer '21 RGUHSNov '20 MUHSSummer '20 RGUHSMay '18 MUHSSummer '17 RGUHSJun '16 RGUHSMay '10 RGUHSSep '07

  • Natural and semisynthetic bactericidal antibiotics — amino sugars glycosidically linked to a central aminocyclitol ring (streptidine in streptomycin; 2-deoxystreptamine in all others).
  • Produced by soil actinomycetes — Streptomyces spp. yield the -mycin suffix (streptomycin, neomycin, tobramycin); Micromonospora spp. yield -micin (gentamicin, sisomicin); semisynthetic — amikacin, netilmicin, plazomicin, arbekacin.
  • Prototype concentration-dependent bactericidals with a prominent post-antibiotic effect (PAE) AND prototype narrow-therapeutic-index drugs requiring therapeutic drug monitoring.
  • Active mainly against aerobic Gram-negative bacilli (incl. Pseudomonas aeruginosa); no anaerobic activity; synergistic with cell-wall-active agents against Gram-positive cocci (Enterococcus, Streptococcus).
Continue reading

Aminoglycosides

PharmaNotes Pro · LAQ

Sign in with your Google account. If you're already subscribed, the chapter unlocks immediately — otherwise, pick Monthly or Annual on the next step.