Amikacin

Amikacin is a semisynthetic aminoglycoside antibiotic used for serious infections caused by susceptible bacteria, including some resistant to other aminoglycosides. It binds bacterial ribosomes and can damage hearing and kidneys.

Aminoglycosides: A class of antibiotics that inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by binding the 30S ribosomal subunit. Amikacin is a member of this class and shares its characteristic ribosomal action.
Tuberculosis: An infectious disease caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, usually affecting the lungs. Amikacin has been used as a reserve drug for drug-resistant tuberculosis, though newer regimens often avoid it.
Gentamicin: An aminoglycoside antibiotic used to treat serious infections caused by susceptible bacteria. Amikacin often retains activity against isolates with enzymes that inactivate gentamicin.
Kanamycin: An aminoglycoside antibiotic originally isolated from Streptomyces kanamyceticus. Amikacin is derived from kanamycin A through chemical modification.
Antimicrobial resistance: The ability of microorganisms to survive exposure to medicines that would ordinarily inhibit or kill them. Amikacin's usefulness depends on preserving its activity as resistant bacteria spread.
Bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit: The small subunit of bacterial ribosomes that reads messenger RNA during protein synthesis. Amikacin binds this subunit and disrupts accurate translation.
Nontuberculous mycobacteria: Mycobacteria outside the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and Mycobacterium leprae that can cause human disease. Amikacin is used against selected nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, often alongside other drugs.
Tobramycin: An aminoglycoside antibiotic used for serious bacterial infections and inhaled treatment of chronic airway infection. Its overlapping spectrum and toxicity make it a frequent alternative to amikacin.
Semisynthesis: Chemical modification of a natural product to create a derivative with altered properties. Amikacin's semisynthetic structure was designed to preserve activity against some resistant bacteria.
Aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss: Hearing impairment caused by damage to inner-ear sensory cells after aminoglycoside exposure. Individual susceptibility and cumulative exposure make this serious amikacin risk difficult to predict.

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