aminoglycoside

aminoglycoside /ami·no·gly·co·side/ (-gli´ko-sid) any of a group of antibacterial antibiotics (e.g., streptomycin, gentamicin) derived from various species of Streptomyces or produced synthetically; they interfere with the function of bacterial ribosomes.

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a·mi·no·gly·co·side (-mn-glk-sd, m-n-)

n.

Any of a group of bacteriocidal antibiotics derived from species of Streptomyces or Micromonosporum that are effective against aerobic gram-negative bacilli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

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aminoglycoside

any of a group of bacterial antibiotics derived from various species of Streptomyces that interfere with the function of bacterial ribosomes. These compounds contain an inositol moiety substituted with two amino or guanidino groups and with one or more sugars or aminosugars.

The aminoglycosides include gentamicin, streptomycin, tobramycin, amikacin, kanamycin and neomycin. They are used to treat infections caused by gram-negative organisms and are classified as bactericidal agents because of their interference with bacterial replication. All of the aminoglycoside antibiotics are highly toxic, requiring monitoring of blood serum levels at frequent intervals and careful observation of the patient for early signs of toxicity, particularly ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity.