1. Name Of The Medicinal Product
Gentamicin 40 mg/ml Injection
2. Qualitative And Quantitative Composition
1 ml of solution for injection contains 40 mg of gentamicin (as sulphate)
1 vial of 2 ml solution for injection contains 80 mg of gentamicin (as sulphate)
For excipients, see 6.1
3. Pharmaceutical Form
Solution for injection.
Vials containing a clear colourless solution.
4. Clinical Particulars
4.1 Therapeutic Indications
Gentamicin is bactericidal and is active against many strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens including species of Escherichia, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Serratia, Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus, some Proteus and against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Gentamicin is often effective against strains of these organisms which are resistant to other antibiotics such as streptomycin, kanamycin and neomycin. Gentamicin is effective against penicillin-resistant Staphylococci, but rarely effective against Streptococci.
Gentamicin is indicated in the treatment of the following infections when caused by susceptible organisms.
Consideration should be given to official local guidance on the appropriate use of antibacterial agents
Severe Gram-Negative Infections:
Upper and lower urinary tract infections
Burn and wound infections
Septicaemia, Bacteraemia
Abscesses
Subacute Bacterial Endocarditis
Respiratory Tract infections (Bronchopneumonia)
Neonatal infections
Gynaecological infections
Gram-Positive Infections:
Bacteraemia
Abscesses
Accidental and operative trauma
Burns and serious skin lesions.
4.2 Posology And Method Of Administration
Gentamicin is normally given by the intramuscular route, but can be given intravenously when intramuscular administration is not feasible.
Gentamicin is normally given by the intramuscular route, but can be given intravenously when intramuscular administration is not feasible, e.g. in shocked or severely burned patients. When given intravenously, the prescribed dose should be administered slowly over 2 to 3 minutes directly into a vein or into the rubber tubing of a giving set. Rapid, direct intravenous administration may give rise, initially, to potentially neurotoxic concentrations and it is essential that the prescribed dose is administered over the recommended period of time. Alternatively the prescribed dose should be dissolved in up to 100 ml of normal saline or 5% glucose in water, but not solutions containing bicarbonate (see Incompatibilities P6B, 7h), and the solution infused over a period of 20 to 30 minutes.
The same dosage schedule is recommended for intramuscular and intravenous dosing. Dosage is related to the severity of infection, the age of the patient and the patient's renal function.
The daily dose recommended in children, adolescents and adults with normal renal function, is 3-6 mg/kg body weight per day as 1 (preferred) up to 2 single doses.
The daily dose in infants after the first month of life is 4.5-7.5 mg/kg body weight per day as 1 (preferred) up to 2 single doses.
The daily dose in newborns is 4-7 mg/kg body weight per day. Due to the longer half-life, newborns are given the required daily dose in 1 single dose.
In impaired renal function, the recommended daily dose has to be decreased and adjusted to the renal function.
Doses in Patients with Impaired Renal Function:
Dosage is adjusted for patients with renal impairment to minimise the risk of toxicity. The first dose should be as normal - after this, doses should be given less frequently, the interval being determined by results of renal function tests as below:
Renal Function Tests:
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Monitoring advice:
Serum concentration monitoring of gentamicin is recommended, especially in elderly, in newborns and in patients with impaired renal function. Samples are taken at the end of a dosing interval (trough level). Trough levels should not exceed 2 µg/ml administering gentamicin twice daily and 1 µg/ml for a once daily dose. Please refer to section 4.4.
4.3 Contraindications
Patients being treated with gentamicin should be under close clinical observation because of its potential toxicity.
Hypersensitivity to gentamicin, any other ingredient or other aminoglycosides.
Myasthenia gravis.
Gentamicin should be used with caution in premature infants because of their renal immaturity, in elderly people and generally in patients with impaired renal function. Diabetes, auditory vestibular dysfunctions, otitis media, a history of otitis media, previous use of ototoxic drugs and a genetically determined high sensitivity to aminoglycoside induced ototoxicity, are other main factors which may pre-dispose the patient to toxicity.
4.4 Special Warnings And Precautions For Use
Patients being treated with gentamicin should be under close clinical observation because of its potential toxicity.
As with other aminoglycosides toxicity is related to serum concentration. At serum levels more than 10 micrograms/ml the vestibular mechanism may be affected. Toxicity can be minimised by monitoring serum concentrations and it is advisable to check serum levels to confirm that peak levels (one hour) do not exceed 10 micrograms/ml and that trough levels (one hour before next injection) do not exceed 2 micrograms/ml when administering Gentamicin twice daily and 1µg/ml for a once daily dose. Evidence of toxicity requires adjustment of dosage or withdrawal of the drug.
Concurrent use of other neurotoxic and/or nephrotoxic drugs can increase the possibility of gentamicin toxicity. Co-administration with the following agents should be avoided:
Neuromuscular blocking agents such as succinylcholine and tubocurarine.
Other potentially nephrotoxic or ototoxic drugs such as cephalosporins and methicillin.
Potent diuretics such as ethacrynic acid and furosemide.
Other aminoglycosides.
To avoid adverse events, continuous monitoring (before, during and after) of renal function (serum creatinin, creatinin clearance), control of function of vestibule and cochlea as well as hepatic and laboratory parameters is recommended.
Sulphites can cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and bronchospasm in susceptible people, especially those with a history of asthma or allergy.
4.5 Interaction With Other Medicinal Products And Other Forms Of Interaction
(i) Antibacterials: increased risk of nephrotoxicity with cephalosporins notably cephalothin .
(ii) Gentamicin has been known to potentiate anticoagulants such as warfarin and phenindione.
(iii) Antifungals: increased risk of nephrotoxicity with amphotericin.
(iv) Cholinergics: antagonism of effect of neostigmine and pyridostigmine.
(v) Cyclosporin: increased risk of nephrotoxicity.
(vi) Cytotoxics: increased risk of nephrotoxicity and possible risk of ototoxicity with cisplatin.
(vii) Diuretics: increased risk of ototoxicity with loop diuretics.
(viii) Muscle relaxants: effect of non-depolarising muscle relaxants such as tubocurarine enhanced.
4.6 Pregnancy And Lactation
Use in Pregnancy:
Although no teratogenic effects have been observed, gentamicin is known to cross the placenta. Ototoxicity in the foetus is also a potential hazard. The benefits should, therefore, be weighed against such hazards to the foetus before using gentamicin during pregnancy.
Use in Lactation:
Small amounts of gentamicin have been reported in breast milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions to an aminoglycoside in nursing infants, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the woman.
4.7 Effects On Ability To Drive And Use Machines
Not applicable.
4.8 Undesirable Effects
Ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity are the most common side effects associated with Gentamicin therapy. Both effects are related to renal impairment and hence the dosage in such patients should be altered as suggested. In addition, there have been rare reports of changes in electrolyte balance including hypocalcaemia and hypokalaemia caused by renal tubular dysfunction.
Vestibular damage and ototoxicity may occur. This is usually reversible if observed promptly and the dose adjusted.
Other adverse reactions associated with Gentamicin therapy include nausea, vomiting, urticaria, reversible granulocytopenia, allergic contact sensitisation and neuromuscular blockade. There have been a few reports of anaphylactic reactions associated with gentamicin containing therapy.
Combinations of antibiotics containing gentamicin have been associated with rare reports of Clostridium difficile diarrhoea.
4.9 Overdose
As in the case of other aminoglycosides, toxicity is associated with serum levels above a critical value. In patients with normal renal function it is unlikely that toxic serum levels (in excess of 10 micrograms/ml) will be reached after administration of recommended doses. Where higher levels occur because of renal impairment, dosage should be reduced. In the event of an overdose or toxic reaction, peritoneal dialysis or haemodialysis will lower serum gentamicin levels.
5. Pharmacological Properties
5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties
Gentamicin is usually bactericidal in action. Although the exact mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated, the drug appears to inhibit protein synthesis in susceptible bacteria by irreversibly binding to 30S ribosomal subunits.
In general, gentamicin is active against many aerobic gram-negative bacteria and some aerobic gram-positive bacteria. Gentamicin is inactive against fungi, viruses, and most anaerobic bacteria.
In vitro, gentamicin concentrations of 1-8 µg/ml inhibit most susceptible strains of Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella lacunata, Neisseria, indole positive and indole negative Proteus, Pseudomonas (including most strains of Ps. aeruginosa), Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, and Serratia. However, different species and different strains of the same species may exhibit wide variations in susceptibility in vitro. In addition, in vitro susceptibility does not always correlate with in vivo activity. Gentamicin is only minimally active against Streptococci.
Natural and acquired resistance to gentamicin has been demonstrated in both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Gentamicin resistance may be due to decreased permeability of the bacterial cell wall, alteration in the ribosomal binding site, or the presence of a plasmid-mediated resistance factor which is acquired by conjugation. Plasmid-mediated resistance enables the resistant bacteria to enzymatically modify the drug by acetylation, phosphorylation, or adenylation and can be transferred between organisms of the same or different species. Resistance to other aminoglycosides and several other anti-infectives (e.g. chloramphenicol, sulphonamides, tetracycline) may be transferred on the same plasmid.
There is partial cross-resistance between gentamicin and other aminoglycosides.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties
Distribution
The distribution volume of gentamicin is about equivalent to the volume of extracellular water. In the newborn water makes up 70 to 75% of bodyweight, compared with 50 to 55% in adults. The extracellular water compartment is larger (40% of body weight compared with 25% of body weight in adults). Therefore, the volume of distribution of gentamicin per kg bodyweight is affected and decreases with increasing age from 0.5 to 0.7 L/kg for a premature newborn to 0.25 L/kg for an adolescent. The larger volume of distribution per kg bodyweight means that for adequate peak blood concentration a higher dose per kg bodyweight needs to be administered.
Elimination
Gentamicin is not metabolized in the body but is excreted unchanged in microbiologically active form predominantly via the kidneys. In patients with normal renal function the elimination halflife is about 2 to 3 hours. In neonates elimination rate is reduced due to immature renal function.
Elimination half life averages approximately 8 hours in neonates at a gestational age of 26 to 34 weeks compared with about 6.7 hours in neonates at a gestational age of 35 to 37 weeks.
Correspondingly, clearance values increase from about 0.05 L/h in neonates at a gestational age of 27 to 0.2 L/h in neonates at a gestational age of 40 weeks.
5.3 Preclinical Safety Data
There is no pre-clinical data of relevance to the prescriber which are additional to that already included in other sections of the SPC.
6. Pharmaceutical Particulars
6.1 List Of Excipients
Sodium metabisulphite
Disodium edetate
Methyl hydroxybenzoate
Propyl hydroxybenzoate
Water for Injections
Sulphuric acid (2.5N)
Sodium hydroxide (2.5N)
6.2 Incompatibilities
Gentamicin Injection should not be mixed with other drugs before injection and where co-administration of penicillins, cephalosporins, erythromycin, sulphadiazine, furosemide and betalactam antibiotics and heparin is necessary, the drugs should be administered separately, either as bolus injections into the tubing of the giving set or at separate sites. Addition of gentamicin to solutions containing bicarbonate may lead to the release of carbon dioxide.
6.3 Shelf Life
36 months.
6.4 Special Precautions For Storage
Do not store above 25°C.
6.5 Nature And Contents Of Container
80 mg/2 ml - Clear, Type I glass vials in packs of 5 vials.
6.6 Special Precautions For Disposal And Other Handling
Not applicable.
7. Marketing Authorisation Holder
Hospira UK Limited
Queensway
Royal Leamington Spa
Warwickshire CV31 3RW
United Kingdom
8. Marketing Authorisation Number(S)
PL 04515/0037
9. Date Of First Authorisation/Renewal Of The Authorisation
5th February 1998
10. Date Of Revision Of The Text
19th July 2011
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