Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 26, 2026

The Mouse Round-window Approach for Ototoxic Agent Delivery: A Rapid and Reliable Technique for Inducing Cochlear Cell Degeneration
12:21

The Mouse Round-window Approach for Ototoxic Agent Delivery: A Rapid and Reliable Technique for Inducing Cochlear Cell Degeneration

Published on: November 26, 2015

Vestibulotoxicity and ototoxicity of gentamicin in newborns at risk

G Aust1

  • 1Beratungsstelle für Hoerbehinderte, Bezirksamt Neukoelln von Berlin, Germany. GottfriedAust@t-online.de

The International Tinnitus Journal
|February 18, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Gentamicin treatment in newborns shows a low risk of hearing or vestibular issues. This antibiotic is less ototoxic in neonates compared to older individuals when used therapeutically.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Ototoxicity Research
  • Pediatric Audiology

Background:

  • Gentamicin is a critical antibiotic for neonatal infections but carries ototoxic risks.
  • Previous studies suggest higher ototoxicity in adults and older children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the ototoxic and vestibulotoxic effects of gentamicin in newborns.
  • To compare the safety profile of gentamicin in neonates versus older populations.

Main Methods:

  • Study 1: Retrospective analysis of hearing disorders in 8,333 children, identifying 134 with prior gentamicin exposure.
  • Study 2: Comparative analysis of vestibular function in 30 gentamicin-treated newborns and 30 controls.

Main Results:

  • Only 6.0% of newborns treated with gentamicin showed sensorineural hearing impairment, all with other risk factors.
  • No significant differences in vestibular function (spontaneous eye movements, nystagmus parameters) were found between gentamicin-exposed newborns and controls.

Conclusions:

  • Therapeutic doses of gentamicin demonstrate a lower ototoxic and vestibulotoxic potential in newborns compared to older age groups.
  • Gentamicin can be considered relatively safe for neonatal use concerning hearing and vestibular function when administered under controlled therapeutic conditions.

More Related Videos

Trans-Tympanic Drug Delivery for the Treatment of Ototoxicity09:52

Trans-Tympanic Drug Delivery for the Treatment of Ototoxicity

Published on: March 16, 2018

Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss09:44

Neuro-rehabilitation Approach for Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Published on: January 25, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Determination of Multiple Dosing Parameters: Steady-State, Minimum and Maximum Concentrations01:15

Determination of Multiple Dosing Parameters: Steady-State, Minimum and Maximum Concentrations

Gentamicin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, is commonly administered via intermittent intravenous infusion to treat severe infections. An intermittent one-hour infusion of gentamicin, administered at eight-hour intervals, allows for precise control of plasma drug concentrations, minimizing toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy. Pharmacokinetic principles govern the dynamics of plasma concentrations and can be mathematically described using specific equations.The plasma drug concentration...
Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Drug Dosing: Infants and Children01:29

Drug Dosing: Infants and Children

Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...