Last update: Aug. 22, 2019

Gentamicin

Very Low Risk for breastfeeding


Safe. Compatible.
Not risky for breastfeeding or infant.

Aminoglycoside antibacterial indicated in serious infections, usually with another antibiotic.
Administered intravenously or intramuscularly in one or two daily doses.
It is also used topically, cutaneously, ophthalmologically or otologically.

It is excreted in breastmilk in insignificant quantities (Celiloglu 1994, Boda 1990, Ito 1970).

Plasma levels of infants of mothers treated with gentamicin were zero (Ito 1970) or very low (Celiloglu 1994), lower than the recommended trough level in the monitoring of gentamicin treatment.

No problems have been observed in infants of mothers treated with gentamicin, except for a case of bloody stools in a newborn whose mother was given clindamycin and gentamicin (Mann 1980) and a two-month-old infant who presented transient urticaria after the mother took amoxicillin-clavulanic and gentamicin to treat mastitis (Cherif 2009).

Gentamicin, like all other aminoglycosides, has very low oral bioavailability (Briggs 2017, Chin 200, Fulton 1992), which impedes transfer from breastmilk to infant plasma, except in premature infants and the immediate neonatal period when there may be greater intestinal permeability (Nelson 1972).

t is important to take into account possible false negative cultures in febrile infants whose mothers take antibiotics, as well as the possibility of gastroenteritis due to altered intestinal flora (Briggs 2017, Arbex 2010, Ito 1993).

The small dose and the low plasma absorption of topical nasal, ophthalmological, otological and dermatological preparations prevent its transfer to breastmilk in significant amounts (Niebyl 1992).

Expert authors consider the use of this medication during breastfeeding to be safe (Hale 2019, Biggs 2017, Rowe 2013, Schaefer 2007, Nahum 2006, Mahadevan 2006).

American Academy of Pediatrics: medication usually compatible with breastfeeding (AAP 2001).
List of WHO essential medicines: compatible with breastfeeding (WHO / UNICEF 2002).

Alternatives

We do not have alternatives for Gentamicin since it is relatively safe.

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM´s pediatricians and pharmacists, and are based on updated scientific publications.
It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

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Other names

Gentamicin is also known as


Gentamicin in other languages or writings:

Groups

Gentamicin belongs to these groups or families:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Gentamicin in its composition:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Oral Bioavail. < 1 %
Molecular weight 478 daltons
Protein Binding < 30 %
VD 0,2 - 0,4 l/Kg
Tmax 0,5 - 1,5 hours
T1/2 2 - 3 hours
M/P ratio 0,1 - 0,4 -
Theoretical Dose 0,07 mg/Kg/d
Relative Dose 1 . 1,7 %
Relat.Ped.Dose 2,8 %

References

  1. Hale TW. Hale's Medications & Mothers' Milk. Springer Publishing Company. 2019
  2. Briggs GG, Freeman RK, Towers CV, Forinash AB. Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk. Wolters Kluwer Health. 11th edition (acces on line) 2017
  3. Rowe H, Baker T, Hale TW. Maternal medication, drug use, and breastfeeding. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2013 Feb;60(1):275-94. Abstract
  4. Cherif F, El Aidli S, Kastalli S, Zaiem A, Daghfous Moula H, Lakhal M, Daghfous R. Drug induced urticaria via breastfeeding. in; Abstracts of the 13th Annual Meeting of French Society of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 76th Annual Meeting of Society of Physiology, 30th Pharmacovigilance Meeting, 10th APNET Seminar and 7th CHU CIC Meeting, 15‐17 April 2009, Marseille, France Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 2009;23 (Suppl 1):37. Abstract 203
  5. Schaefer C, Peters P, Miller RK. Drugs During Pregnancy and Lactation. Treatment options and risk assessment. Elsevier, second edition. London. 2007
  6. Nahum GG, Uhl K, Kennedy DL. Antibiotic use in pregnancy and lactation: what is and is not known about teratogenic and toxic risks. Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Abstract
  7. Mahadevan U, Kane S. American gastroenterological association institute technical review on the use of gastrointestinal medications in pregnancy. Gastroenterology. 2006 Jul;131(1):283-311. Review. Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  8. WHO / UNICEF. BREASTFEEDING AND MATERNAL MEDICATION Recommendations for Drugs in the Eleventh WHO Model List of Essential Drugs. Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development (WHO/UNICEF) 2002 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  9. AAP - American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs. Transfer of drugs and other chemicals into human milk. Pediatrics. 2001 Sep;108(3):776-89. Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  10. Chin KG, McPherson CE 3rd, Hoffman M, Kuchta A, Mactal-Haaf C. Use of anti-infective agents during lactation: Part 2--Aminoglycosides, macrolides, quinolones, sulfonamides, trimethoprim, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, and metronidazole. J Hum Lact. 2001 Feb;17(1):54-65. Abstract
  11. Celiloglu M, Celiker S, Guven H, Tuncok Y, Demir N, Erten O. Gentamicin excretion and uptake from breast milk by nursing infants. Obstet Gynecol. 1994 Abstract
  12. Fulton B, Moore LL. Antiinfectives in breastmilk. Part II: Sulfonamides, tetracyclines, macrolides, aminoglycosides and antimalarials. J Hum Lact. 1992 Dec;8(4):221-3. Review. No abstract available. Abstract
  13. Niebyl JR. Use of antibiotics for ear, nose, and throat disorders in pregnancy and lactation. Am J Otolaryngol. 1992 Jul-Aug;13(4):187-92. Review. No abstract available. Abstract
  14. Boda A. [Gentamycin concentration in the milk of a mother after treatment by implantation of a Septopal chain]. Orv Hetil. 1990 Abstract
  15. Mann CF. Clindamycin and breast-feeding. Pediatrics. 1980 Abstract
  16. Nelson JD, McCracken GH Jr. The current status of gentamicin for tne neonate and young infant. Am J Dis Child. 1972 Jul;124(1):13-4. No abstract available. Abstract
  17. Ito T. [Absorption, excretion and effects of gentamicin in newborn infants]. Jpn J Antibiot. 1970 Jun;23(3):298-311. Japanese. No abstract available. Abstract

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