Tobramycin

At Tobramycin it is a well-known antibiotic that is particularly effective and is used to treat infectious diseases. Because of its aggressiveness, tobramycin is never the first choice. It is only used when milder agents no longer achieve acceptable results.

What is Tobramycin?

The medicinal drug tobramycin is one of the antibiotics. It is therefore able to kill certain disease-causing bacteria in a targeted and effective manner. He is also called Tobramycinum denotes and, due to its specific properties, belongs to the group of aminoglycosides. This term is used to group together some antibiotics that are chemically similar.

Tobramycin is indicated for the therapy of bacterial infectious diseases and is sold under various trade names. Tobramycin is generally subject to pharmacy and prescription requirements in those countries in which it is licensed, so that it is not possible to purchase it independently, but requires a doctor's prescription.

In chemistry, tobramycin is described by the empirical formula C 18 - H 37 - N 5 - O 9 - Mr. This structure corresponds to a moral mass of approx. 467.51 g / mol. The most common forms of award include a. Creams, injections and drops. Tobramycin, however, is not used in film-coated tablets.

Pharmacological effect on the body and organs

Because of its chemical and pharmacological properties, tobramycin belongs to the group of so-called aminoglycosides. A large number of heterogeneous antibiotics are summarized under this collective term. Representatives of this group usually have at least two amino sugar molecules or sugar molecules that are linked to one another. This results in some similarities in terms of the mechanism of action.

Tobramycin leads to an inhibition of protein production. Due to the antibiotic, the pathogenic bacteria are no longer able to produce proteins on their own, which ultimately leads to their death. The effect of tobramycin can therefore be described as bactericidal.

In the literature it is described that tobramycin is a comparatively aggressive substance. As such, the antibiotic can kill bacteria particularly effectively, but some of its effects have negative effects on the human body.

Medical application & use for treatment & prevention

Tobramycin is used in medicine to kill gram-negative bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria are those which turn red when a differential staining process is carried out (Gram staining). This enables a differentiation from gram-positive pathogens that turn blue.

It is indicated for severe pneumonia and diseases of the respiratory tract that may have developed in hospital. It can also be used for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections and for the treatment of infections of the abdomen, skin, muscles or tendons.

In addition, severe burns are an area of ​​application for tobramycin. It is also used in children to treat cystic fibrosis. Eye drops that contain tobramycin as the active ingredient are prescribed to treat tobramycin-sensitive bacteria of the external or anterior eye area (e.g., inflammation of the eyelid, conjunctivitis, or inflammation of the cornea).

Because of its partially toxic effect, tobramycin is never the first agent to be used in therapy. Tobramycin is therefore considered to be the last resort.

Tobramycin - which is typical for representatives of the aminoglycoside group - is not administered as a tablet. This is a special feature, since the tablet form is the most common administration of antibiotics today, because it enables the patient to take them independently. Tobramycin, on the other hand, is used in the form of injections, creams or ointments as well as eye or ear drops for local application. Inhalations are also possible.

Risks & side effects

Even when taken or used correctly, tobramycin can lead to risks and side effects. The most common undesirable effects that can occur after use are an excess of immature blood cells and local irritation after an infusion.

Other side effects include increased ASAT and ALAT values, a low number of white blood cells, headaches and gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting). A skin rash, redness or itching are also potentially conceivable side effects.

The rare side effects include diarrhea, fever, calcium, potassium, magnesium or sodium deficiency and the development of massive skin reactions (e.g. Stevens-Johnson syndrome).

Hives, general malaise, swelling of the lymph glands, drowsiness and fungal infections are very rare.

The likelihood of certain side effects occurring depends on the type of administration. The individual circumstances of the individual case must also be taken into account.

Tobramycin should not be used if an intolerance is known. Because in these cases there is a contraindication. Extreme caution is required in patients with kidney damage, as this may also be considered a contraindication.

You should also watch out for interactions with other medicines. For example, they can exist when taking colistin, polymyxins or amphotericin B at the same time. The doctor must therefore always be kept informed of all medication taken.