Gentamicin for the practicing urologist: review of efficacy, single daily dosing and "switch" therapy

We review the literature on gentamicin, including single daily dosing and "switch" therapy.

We used MEDLINE to search the literature from 1966 to June 1997, and then manually searched bibliographies to identify studies that our initial search might have missed.

Gentamicin has attractive characteristics, including wide spectrum, infrequent resistance, economy and familiarity. Although limited by well known toxicities, gentamicin remains a drug of choice for serious Gram-negative infections. Dosing strategies, such as single daily dosing and switch therapy, have renewed enthusiasm for this time-honored drug.

Gentamicin remains a valuable drug in urology. Once daily dosing and switch therapy offer the potential to increase effectiveness and convenience while decreasing toxicity and costs.