What It Is
Tobramycin belongs to a class of antibiotics called aminoglycosides. It is available as an injection, eye drops and ointment, and as a solution for inhalation.
What It's Used For
Tobramycin is generally used for serious infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Injections are used in hospital for infections of the blood, lungs, and abdomen. The eye drops and ointment treat bacterial eye infections, and an inhaled form is used to control lung infections in cystic fibrosis. Tobramycin eye drops are often combined with dexamethasone to treat infection together with inflammation.
How It Works
Tobramycin attaches to a part of the bacterial ribosome, the structure that builds proteins. This causes the bacteria to make faulty proteins and leads to their death. Injected tobramycin can affect the kidneys and hearing, so doctors monitor blood levels and organ function during treatment.
History and Regulatory Status
Tobramycin was obtained from the soil bacterium Streptomyces tenebrarius and came into medical use in the 1970s. It is a prescription medicine, available as generic products under many brand names. Eye and inhaled forms have much lower risk of the side effects seen with injections.