Abstract

Gentamicin sulphate (Cidomycin - Roussel; Genticin - British Schering) is an antibiotic related to the kanamycin group. It is produced by fermentation from an actinomycete, Micromonospora purpurea, and has a wide and unusual range of antibacterial activity.^{1 2} Most strains of E. coli, the Klebsiella-Aerobacter group, and all species of Proteus are highly or moderately susceptible to the drug, as are the smaller number of Shigella and Salmonella species so far tested. In this respect its range resembles that of kanamycin but, in addition, gentamicin is active against most strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (pyocyanea), thus combining the antibacterial activity of kanamycin with that of the polymyxins (to which Proteus is resistant). Gentamicin is also active against Staph. aureus, but streptococci are only moderately sensitive, and enterococci are often resistant.