Proper use of aminoglycosides.

Streptomycin is still the treatment of choice for tularemia and plague, and is effective in a few other diseases. Neomycin is used primarily as a topical agent. The other aminoglycoside antibiotics are indicated in serious infections caused by the gram-negative enterobacteria and, except for kanamycin, are also effective in Pseudomonas infections. These agents are useful in combination with other antibiotics in several serious types of infections. Toxicity, mainly nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity, is dose-related.