Aminoglycosides and Ototoxicity

Course overview

This course will provide an overview of the aminoglycoside class, including the mechanism of action and the members of the class. It will also discuss the role that aminoglycosides have in therapy, alongside other antibiotic classes. Next, the etiology of aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity will be discussed. This discussion includes the innate tendencies of different aminoglycosides to cause damage in different locations inside the ear. For informing clinical recommendations, the course will describe drug interactions to avoid with aminoglycosides. Current research suggests that there are many agents that can protect the ear from toxic effects of aminoglycosides; these agents will be named. The goal of this course is to provide pharmacists in acute care settings with the latest knowledge on aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity.