Brands, Medical Use, Clinical Data
Drug Category
Dosage Forms
Brands / Synonyms
Aminodeoxykanamycin; Bekanamycin; KAN; Kanamycin A; Kanamycin B; Kanamycin Base; Kanamycin Sulfate; Kantrex; Kenamycin A; Klebcil; Nebramycin Factor 5
Indications
For treatment of infections where one or more of the following are the known or suspected pathogens: E. coli, Proteus species (both indole-positive and indole-negative), E. aerogenes, K. pneumoniae, S. marcescens, and Acinetobacter species.
Pharmacology
Kanamycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic. Aminoglycosides work by binding to the bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit, causing misreading of t-RNA, leaving the bacterium unable to synthesize proteins vital to its growth. Aminoglycosides are useful primarily in infections involving aerobic, Gram-negative bacteria, such as Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Enterobacter. In addition, some mycobacteria, including the bacteria that cause tuberculosis, are susceptible to aminoglycosides. Infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria can also be treated with aminoglycosides, but other types of antibiotics are more potent and less damaging to the host. In the past the aminoglycosides have been used in conjunction with penicillin-related antibiotics in streptococcal infections for their synergistic effects, particularly in endocarditis. Aminoglycosides are mostly ineffective against anaerobic bacteria, fungi and viruses.
Mechanism of Action
Aminoglycosides like Kanamycin "irreversibly" bind to specific 30S-subunit proteins and 16S rRNA. Specifically Kanamycin binds to four nucleotides of 16S rRNA and a single amino acid of protein S12. This interferes with decoding site in the vicinity of nucleotide 1400 in 16S rRNA of 30S subunit. This region interacts with the wobble base in the anticodon of tRNA. This leads to interference with the initiation complex, misreading of mRNA so incorrect amino acids are inserted into the polypeptide leading to nonfunctional or toxic peptides and the breakup of polysomes into nonfunctional monosomes.
Absorption
Not Available
Toxicity
LD 50 - ORAL, MOUSE = 17500 MG/KG, LD 50 - ORAL, RAT = >4 GM/KG, LD 50 - ORAL, RABBIT = >3 GM/KG
Biotrnasformation / Drug Metabolism
Not Available
Contraindications
A history of hypersensitivity or toxic reaction to one aminoglycoside may also contraindicate the use of any other
aminoglycoside, because of the known cross- sensitivity and cumulative effects of drugs in this category.
THIS DRUG IS NOT INDICATED IN LONG- TERM THERAPY (e.g. Tuberculosis) BECAUSE OF THE TOXIC HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH
EXTENDED ADMINISTRATION.
Drug Interactions
In vitro mixing of an aminoglycoside with beta-lactamtype antibiotics (penicillins or cephalosporins) may
result in a significant mutual inactivation. Even when an aminoglycoside and a penicillin-type drug are administered
separately by different routes, a reduction in aminoglycoside serum half-life or serum levels has been reported in
patients with impaired renal function and in some patients with normal renal function. Usually, such inactivation of
the aminoglycoside is clinically significant only in patients with severely impaired renal function.. See
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