Aminoglycoside Administration - Term Paper Example

The paper "Aminoglycoside Administration" is a brilliant example of a term paper on medical science. Aminoglycosides are a molecule that functions as antibiotics and is used in the treatment of certain types of bacteria. It is usually used to fight against Gram-negative caused infections. Types of aminoglycosides include apramycin, paromomycin, gentamicin, among others.

Gentamicin is a cheap and efficient drug that is utilized in the treatment of some types of infections. The drug has been administered by the use of single daily doses than eight hourly doses. This is because there is evidence that it is just as effective when used once a day as multiple times during the day.

The method that was initially made use of in the administration of aminoglycoside was the infusion of the drug over a given time period; 30 to 60 minutes. Multiple doses being administered via bolus daily has been common practice in various countries (Kiastersky et al). However, since the adoption of once-daily dosing; hesitancy in the use of bolus administration has been seen.

However, there are limitations to its therapeutic efficacy. Nephrotoxicity occurs in the therapeutic regimes of between 10-20%. One of the main aspects of Gentamicin nephrotoxicity lies in its tubular effect which ranges from the loss of brush borders that are available in epithelial cells to overt tubular necrosis. Tubular cytotoxicity is a result of numerous interconnected actions that are triggered by the accumulation of drugs in epithelial tubular cells (Patel et al, 1975). The accumulation is a result of the presence of endocytic receptor complexes developed by Dublin and megalin which transport organic cations and proteins which are located inside the cells. Gentamicin makes its way and accumulates in endosomal compartments, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus. The accumulation causes ER stress and results in unfolded protein response. An excessive concentration of gentamicin over a prolonged period destabilizes the intracellular membranes and the drug is redistributed through the cytosol. It acts on mitochondria and unleashes the intrinsic pathway which leads to apoptosis.