Gentamicin
About Gentamicin
Gentamicin is a dermatological antibiotic medication that treats primary and secondary bacterial skin infections. Bacterial skin infection occurs when bacteria penetrate through hair follicles or the skin breaks and infect the skin. Symptoms include redness, pain, and tenderness of the skin, minor bumps or boils, rashes, blisters, cracked/dry skin, swelling, stinging or burning sensation, pus formation, and itching.
Gentamicin is composed of Gentamicin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic. It prevents the synthesis of essential proteins required by bacteria to carry out vital functions. It has broad-spectrum activity against aerobic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.
Your doctor will advise the appropriate dose that suits your infection. Gentamicin is for topical (skin) use only. Common side effects of Gentamicin include skin irritation, itching, and redness at the application site. These side effects do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. If these side effects persist longer, please consult your doctor.
Let your doctor know if you are allergic to Gentamicin or any other medications. Do not use Gentamicin on large skin areas, open wounds, blisters and lesions. Please do not cover the affected areas with a dressing or bandage unless advised by a doctor. If Gentamicin gets into your eyes, nose or mouth, rinse with cold water. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should consult the doctor before starting this medication. Gentamicin should be used in infants over one year of age only when prescribed by a doctor.
Uses of Gentamicin
Medicinal Benefits
Gentamicin treats various bacterial skin infections, such as eczema (inflamed, itchy, cracked and rough skin patches), psoriasis (skin cells multiply rapidly to form bumpy (uneven) red patches covered with white scales), dermatitis (itchy inflammation of the skin), infected skin cysts, and insect bites. Gentamicin consists of Gentamicin (antibiotic). It prevents the synthesis of essential proteins required by bacteria to carry out vital functions. Gentamicin is also used for treating wet, oozing primary infections and greasy, secondary infections, such as pustular acne or infected seborrheic dermatitis (scaly patches and red skin mainly on the scalp).
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Gentamicin
- Skin irritation
- Itching
- Redness
Drug Warnings
Before using Gentamicin, let your doctor know if you have a history of liver and kidney diseases, viral or fungal infections or allergic reactions to antibiotics. Avoid applying Gentamicin on sunburns, lesions, blisters and open wounds. Do not wash the treated areas for a minimum of 3 hours after you apply Gentamicin. Let your doctor know if you plan to become pregnant, are already pregnant or breastfeeding. Gentamicin is recommended for children above one year of age with a doctor's advice.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interaction: Gentamicin may interact with water pills (etacrynic acid, furosemide), antibiotics (kanamycin, neomycin, polymyxin b), immunosuppressants (cyclosporin), chemotherapy medicines (cisplatin), and leukaemia treating drugs (fludarabine).
Drug-Food Interaction: No interactions were found.
Drug-Disease Interaction: Brief your doctor if you have a medical history of liver and kidney diseases, viral or fungal infections, or allergic reactions before starting Gentamicin.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
safe if prescribedNo interactions were found. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns.
Pregnancy
cautionIt is advised to consult your doctor if you plan to conceive or are already pregnant before starting Gentamicin.
Breast Feeding
cautionThere are limited studies on how Gentamicin affects breastfed infants. Please consult your doctor before using Gentamicin if you are breastfeeding. If you need to apply Gentamicin on your breasts, don't do this shortly before giving a feed.
Driving
safe if prescribedGentamicin has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive or use machines.
Liver
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases or hepatic impairment before starting Gentamicin.
Kidney
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of kidney diseases before starting Gentamicin.
Children
cautionGentamicin is recommended for children above one year of age only with a doctor's advice.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Use mild soap while taking baths and prefer warm baths.
- Always wear loose-fitting clothes to avoid further sweat and spreading skin infection.
- Do not walk barefoot at places like gym showers to prevent bacterial infections.
- Do not scratch the affected skin area as it can spread the infection to other body parts.
- Avoid sharing towels, combs, bedsheets, shoes or socks with others.
- Wash your bed sheets and towels regularly.
- Avoid or limit the intake of alcohol and caffeine.
- Manage stress, eat healthily, drink plenty of water, exercise regularly, and get plenty of sleep.
Special Advise
It is advised to contact your doctor if the infection symptoms persist or worsen after two weeks of treatment.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Bacterial skin infection: Bacterial skin infection occurs when bacteria penetrate through hair follicles or the skin breaks and infect the skin. Symptoms include redness, pain, and tenderness of the skin, minor bumps or boils, rashes, blisters, cracked/dry skin, swelling, stinging or burning sensation, pus formation, and itching. Bacterial skin infections are generally mild and can be treated using topical antibiotics. Sometimes, for a severe infection, an oral antibiotic may be required. Common bacterial infections include cellulitis (red and swollen skin), erysipelas (large patches on the skin), impetigo (red sores on the face), folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles), and carbuncles (pus-filled bumps).
FAQs
Gentamicin is a dermatological antibiotic medication that treats primary and secondary bacterial skin infections.
Gentamicin prevents the synthesis of essential proteins required by bacteria to carry out vital functions. Thus it helps treat bacterial infections of the skin.
Gentamicin is for external use only. Avoid contact with eyes. If Gentamicin gets into your eyes, nose, or mouth, rinse with water. Do not put a bandage or a dressing on the affected area while using Gentamicin unless advised by the doctor. Do not apply Gentamicin on sunburns, large areas, open wounds, lesions, and blisters.
Do not use Gentamicin on your own for acne treatment. If you have severe pustular acne with yellowish fluid called pus, you may be prescribed Gentamicin by a doctor. Do not self-medicate for your skin disease/condition; please consult a dermatologist for expert advice.
You must maintain a three-hour gap after applying Gentamicin if you use more than one topical medicine.
