gentamicin

American  

[jen-tuh-mahy-sin] / ˌdʒɛn təˈmaɪ sɪn /

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a highly toxic broad-spectrum antibiotic mixture of related aminoglycoside substances derived from the actinomycete bacterium Micromonospora purpurea, used in its sulfate form in the treatment of severe Gram-negative infections.

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gentamicin British  

/ ˌdʒɛntəˈmaɪsɪn /

noun

1. a broad-spectrum antibiotic used in the treatment of serious infections

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Etymology

Origin of gentamicin

First recorded in 1960–65; respelling of gentamycin, probably equivalent to gent(ian violet), so called from the color of the source bacterium + -a- (as in kanamycin ) + -mycin; gentian violet, -mycin

Example Sentences

For some babies a single dose of the antibiotic gentamicin can sometimes cause severe irreversible hearing loss.

From BBC • Dec. 7, 2023

Another antibiotic, gentamicin, was found likely to be effective in treating fewer than half of all sepsis and meningitis cases in children.

From Science Daily • Oct. 31, 2023

This suggests PLG0206 could be another tool to fight UTIs, which is good news given that some UTIs involve E. coli strains that are resistant to gentamicin.

From Salon • Sep. 19, 2022

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes, “Plague is a very serious illness, but is treatable with commonly available antibiotics, ”which includes streptomycin, gentamicin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline moxifloxacin, and chloramphenicol.

From Slate • Jul. 15, 2020

One is called gentamicin, but it’s not ideal because it can cause problems in the kidneys and hearing.

From The Verge • Feb. 6, 2018