Genta

Gentamicin 40 mg/ml Injection

1 ml of solution for injection contains 40 mg of gentamicin (as sulphate)

1 vial of 2 ml solution for injection contains 80 mg of gentamicin (as sulphate)

For excipients, see 6.1

Solution for injection.

Vials containing a clear colourless solution.

Gentamicin is bactericidal and is active against many strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens including species of Escherichia, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Serratia, Shigella, Staphylococcus aureus, some Proteus and against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Gentamicin is often effective against strains of these organisms which are resistant to other antibiotics such as streptomycin, kanamycin and neomycin. Gentamicin is effective against penicillin-resistant Staphylococci, but rarely effective against Streptococci.

Gentamicin is indicated in the treatment of the following infections when caused by susceptible organisms.

Consideration should be given to official local guidance on the appropriate use of antibacterial agents

Severe Gram-Negative Infections:

Upper and lower urinary tract infections

Burn and wound infections

Septicaemia, Bacteraemia

Abscesses

Subacute Bacterial Endocarditis

Respiratory Tract infections (Bronchopneumonia)

Neonatal infections

Gynaecological infections

Gram-Positive Infections:

Bacteraemia

Abscesses

Accidental and operative trauma

Burns and serious skin lesions.

Gentamicin is normally given by the intramuscular route, but can be given intravenously when intramuscular administration is not feasible.

Gentamicin is normally given by the intramuscular route, but can be given intravenously when intramuscular administration is not feasible, e.g. in shocked or severely burned patients. When given intravenously, the prescribed dose should be administered slowly over no less than 3 minutes directly into a vein or into the rubber tubing of a giving set. Rapid, direct intravenous administration may give rise, initially, to potentially neurotoxic concentrations and it is essential that the prescribed dose is administered over the recommended period of time. Alternatively the prescribed dose should be dissolved in up to 100 ml of normal saline or 5% glucose in water, but not solutions containing bicarbonate (see Incompatibilities P6B, 7h), and the solution infused over no longer than 20 minutes.

The same dosage schedule is recommended for intramuscular and intravenous dosing. Dosage is related to the severity of infection, the age of the patient and the patient's renal function.

The daily dose recommended in children, adolescents and adults with normal renal function, is 3-6 mg/kg body weight per day as 1 (preferred) up to 2 single doses.

The daily dose in infants after the first month of life is 4.5-7.5 mg/kg body weight per day as 1 (preferred) up to 2 single doses.

The daily dose in newborns is 4-7 mg/kg body weight per day. Due to the longer half-life, newborns are given the required daily dose in 1 single dose.

In impaired renal function, the recommended daily dose has to be decreased and adjusted to the renal function.

Doses in Patients with Impaired Renal Function:

Dosage is adjusted for patients with renal impairment to minimise the risk of toxicity. The first dose should be as normal - after this, doses should be given less frequently, the interval being determined by results of renal function tests as below:

Renal Function Tests:

*60 mg if body weight <60 kg. Frequency of dosage in hours may also be approximated as serum creatinine (mg%) x eight or in SI units, as serum creatinine (µmol/l) divided by 11. If these dosage guides are used, peak serum levels must be measured. Peak levels of gentamicin occur approximately one hour after intra muscular injection and intravenous injection. Trough levels are measured just prior to the next injection. Assay of peak serum levels gives confirmation of adequacy of dosage and also serves to detect levels above 10 mg/l, at which the possibility of ototoxicity should be considered. One hour concentrations of gentamicin should not exceed 10 mg/l (but should reach 4 mg/l), while the pre-dose trough concentration should be less than 2 mg/l.

The recommended dose and precautions for intramuscular and intravenous administration are identical. Gentamicin when given intravenously should be injected directly into a vein or into the drip set tubing over no less than three minutes. If administered by infusion, this should be over no longer than 20 minutes and in no greater volume of fluid than 100 ml.

Monitoring advice:

Serum concentration monitoring of gentamicin is recommended, especially in elderly, in newborns and in patients with impaired renal function.

Patients being treated with gentamicin should be under close clinical observation because of its potential toxicity.

Hypersensitivity to gentamicin, any other ingredient or other aminoglycosides.

Myasthenia gravis.

Gentamicin should be used with caution in premature infants because of their renal immaturity, in elderly people and generally in patients with impaired renal function. Diabetes, auditory vestibular dysfunctions, otitis media, a history of otitis media, previous use of ototoxic drugs and a genetically determined high sensitivity to aminoglycoside induced ototoxicity, are other main factors which may pre-dispose the patient to toxicity.

Patients being treated with gentamicin should be under close clinical observation because of its potential toxicity.

As with other aminoglycosides toxicity is related to serum concentration. At serum levels more than 10 micrograms/ml the vestibular mechanism may be affected. Toxicity can be minimised by monitoring serum concentrations and it is advisable to check serum levels to confirm that peak levels (one hour) do not exceed 10 micrograms/ml and that trough levels (one hour before next injection) do not exceed 2 micrograms/ml when administering Gentamicin twice daily and 1µg/ml for a once daily dose. Evidence of toxicity requires adjustment of dosage or withdrawal of the drug.

As there is some evidence that the risk of both ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity is related to the level of total exposure, duration of therapy should be the shortest possible compatible with clinical recovery.

In some patients with impaired renal function, there has been a transient rise in blood- urea-nitrogen, which has usually reverted to normal during or following cessation of therapy. It is important to adjust the frequency of dosage according to the degree of renal function.

Gentamicin should be used with care in conditions characterised by muscular weakness.

In cases of significant obesity gentamicin serum concentrations should be closely monitored and a reduction in dose should be considered.

Concurrent use of other neurotoxic and/or nephrotoxic drugs can increase the possibility of gentamicin toxicity. Co-administration with the following agents should be avoided:

Neuromuscular blocking agents such as succinylcholine and tubocurarine.

Other potentially nephrotoxic or ototoxic drugs such as cephalosporins and methicillin.

Potent diuretics such as ethacrynic acid and furosemide.

Other aminoglycosides.

To avoid adverse events, continuous monitoring (before, during and after) of renal function (serum creatinin, creatinin clearance), control of function of vestibule and cochlea as well as hepatic and laboratory parameters is recommended.

Sulphites can cause allergic-type reactions including anaphylactic symptoms and bronchospasm in susceptible people, especially those with a history of asthma or allergy.

The vial stopper contains dry natural rubber (a derivative of latex), which may cause allergic reactions.

Not applicable.

Ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity are the most common side effects associated with Gentamicin therapy. Both effects are related to renal impairment and hence the dosage in such patients should be altered as suggested. In addition, there have been rare reports of changes in electrolyte balance including hypocalcaemia and hypokalaemia caused by renal tubular dysfunction.

Ear and labyrinth disorders:

Vestibular damage and ototoxicity may occur. This is usually reversible if observed promptly and the dose adjusted. Frequency Unknown (cannot be estimated from the available data): Irreversible hearing loss, deafness

Renal and urinary disorders

Nephrotoxicity. Frequency Very rare (< 1/10,000).: Acute renal failure, Fanconi-like syndrome in patients treated with a prolonged course of high-dose

Immune system disorders

Hypersensitivity, anaphylactic reactions associated with gentamicin containing therapy.

Blood and lymphatic system disorder

Anemia, blood dyscrasias, granulocytopenia (reversible)

Nervous system disorders

Convulsions, central nervous system toxicity (including encephalopathy, confusion, lethargy, mental depression and hallucinations), neuromuscular blockade

Hepatobiliary disorders

Hepatic function abnormal

Metabolism and nutrition disorders

Hypomagnesaemia (on prolonged therapy)

Infections and infestations

Combinations of antibiotics containing gentamicin have been associated with rare reports of Clostridium difficile diarrhoea.

Gastrointestinal disorders

Stomatitis, nausea, vomiting

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders:

Urticaria, allergic contact dermatitis, purpura

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme, Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

As in the case of other aminoglycosides, toxicity is associated with serum levels above a critical value. In patients with normal renal function it is unlikely that toxic serum levels (in excess of 10 micrograms/ml) will be reached after administration of recommended doses. Where higher levels occur because of renal impairment, dosage should be reduced. In the event of an overdose or toxic reaction, peritoneal dialysis or haemodialysis will lower serum gentamicin levels. Calcium salts given intravenously have been used to counter the neuromuscular blockade caused by gentamicin.

Gentamicin is usually bactericidal in action. Although the exact mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated, the drug appears to inhibit protein synthesis in susceptible bacteria by irreversibly binding to 30S ribosomal subunits.

In general, gentamicin is active against many aerobic gram-negative bacteria and some aerobic gram-positive bacteria. Gentamicin is inactive against fungi, viruses, and most anaerobic bacteria.

In vitro, gentamicin concentrations of 1-8 µg/ml inhibit most susceptible strains of Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella lacunata, Neisseria, indole positive and indole negative Proteus, Pseudomonas (including most strains of Ps. aeruginosa), Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, and Serratia. However, different species and different strains of the same species may exhibit wide variations in susceptibility in vitro. In addition, in vitro susceptibility does not always correlate with in vivo activity. Gentamicin is only minimally active against Streptococci.

Natural and acquired resistance to gentamicin has been demonstrated in both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Gentamicin resistance may be due to decreased permeability of the bacterial cell wall, alteration in the ribosomal binding site, or the presence of a plasmid-mediated resistance factor which is acquired by conjugation. Plasmid-mediated resistance enables the resistant bacteria to enzymatically modify the drug by acetylation, phosphorylation, or adenylation and can be transferred between organisms of the same or different species. Resistance to other aminoglycosides and several other anti-infectives (e.g. chloramphenicol, sulphonamides, tetracycline) may be transferred on the same plasmid.

There is partial cross-resistance between gentamicin and other aminoglycosides.

Distribution

The distribution volume of gentamicin is about equivalent to the volume of extracellular water. In the newborn water makes up 70 to 75% of bodyweight, compared with 50 to 55% in adults. The extracellular water compartment is larger (40% of body weight compared with 25% of body weight in adults). Therefore, the volume of distribution of gentamicin per kg bodyweight is affected and decreases with increasing age from 0.5 to 0.7 L/kg for a premature newborn to 0.25 L/kg for an adolescent. The larger volume of distribution per kg bodyweight means that for adequate peak blood concentration a higher dose per kg bodyweight needs to be administered.

Elimination

Gentamicin is not metabolized in the body but is excreted unchanged in microbiologically active form predominantly via the kidneys. In patients with normal renal function the elimination halflife is about 2 to 3 hours. In neonates elimination rate is reduced due to immature renal function.

Elimination half life averages approximately 8 hours in neonates at a gestational age of 26 to 34 weeks compared with about 6.7 hours in neonates at a gestational age of 35 to 37 weeks.

Correspondingly, clearance values increase from about 0.05 L/h in neonates at a gestational age of 27 to 0.2 L/h in neonates at a gestational age of 40 weeks.

There is no pre-clinical data of relevance to the prescriber which are additional to that already included in other sections of the SPC.

Sodium metabisulphite

Disodium edetate

Methyl hydroxybenzoate

Propyl hydroxybenzoate

Water for Injections

Sulphuric acid (2.5N)

Sodium hydroxide (2.5N)

Gentamicin Injection should not be mixed with other drugs before injection and where co-administration of penicillins, cephalosporins, erythromycin, sulphadiazine, furosemide and betalactam antibiotics and heparin is necessary, the drugs should be administered separately, either as bolus injections into the tubing of the giving set or at separate sites. Addition of gentamicin to solutions containing bicarbonate may lead to the release of carbon dioxide.

36 months.

Do not store above 25°C.

80 mg/2 ml - Clear, Type I glass vials in packs of 5 vials.

Not applicable.

Hospira UK Limited

Horizon, Honey Lane

Hurley

Maidenhead, SL6 6RJ

United Kingdom

PL 04515/0037

5^th February 1998

05/2018