Kanamycin

Action and Spectrum

Kanamycin and other aminoglycosides “irreversibly” attach to 30S-subunit proteins and 16S rRNA. Kanamycin specifically attaches itself to one amino acid of protein S12 and four nucleotides of 16S rRNA. 

In the 16S rRNA of the 30S subunit, this disrupts the decoding site near nucleotide 1400. 

This results in mRNA misreading, which causes the initiation complex to be interfered with and erroneous amino acids to be added to the polypeptide. 

Drug Interaction

Adverse Reaction

Frequency not defined: 

Anorexia 

Diarrhea 

Dyspnea 

Edema 

Rash 

Tinnitus 

Thrombocytopenia 

Tremor 

Vertigo 

Weakness 

Agranulocytosis 

Elevated BUN 

Enterocolitis 

Headache 

Incr salivation 

Muscle cramps 

Muscle weakness 

Nausea 

Nephrotoxicity 

Neurotoxicity 

Ototoxicity 

Pruritus 

Pseudotumor cerebri 

Black Box Warning

Both patients with preexisting renal damage and those with normal renal function who receive higher dosages of treatment may have neurotoxicity. 

Patients with compromised renal function, those receiving high doses, and those receiving prolonged therapy are at higher risk. 

In premature infants and newborns, use with caution due to renal immaturity and the consequent extension of the drug’s blood half-life. 

Contraindication / Caution

Contraindication: 

Hypersensitivity 

Caution: 

Vestibular/cochlear implant 

Nephrotoxic agents 

Renal impairment 

Myasthenia gravis 

Pregnancy / Lactation

Pregnancy considerations: Kanamycin has been assigned under category D. 

Lactation: Kanamycin has been found to be compatible during lactation for breastfeeding females.  

Pregnancy category: 

• Category A: Satisfactory and well-controlled studies show no evidence of risk to the fetus in the first trimester or the later trimester. 
• Category B: There is no evidence of risk to the fetus found in animal reproduction studies and there are not enough studies on pregnant women. 
• Category C: Adverse effects on the fetus found with evidence in animal reproduction studies and no adequate evidence for an effect in humans, care must be taken for potential risks in pregnant women. 
• Category D: There is adequate data available with sufficient evidence of human fetal risk from various platforms, but despite potential risks may be used only in emergency cases for potential benefits. 
• Category X: Drugs listed in this category outweigh risks over benefits. These category drugs should be prohibited for pregnant women. 
• Category N: There is no data available for the drug under this category. 

Pharmacology

Aminoglycosides also be used to treat Gram-positive bacterial infections, but other antibiotics are more effective and less harmful to the host. 

Due to their synergistic effects, aminoglycosides have previously been utilized in streptococcal infections in combination with antibiotics related to penicillin. 

Adminstartion

For adults, intravenous infusions are prepared by adding 500 mg dose of kanamycin up to 100-200 ml with normal IV infusion fluid. 

It should be administered through deep intramuscular injection or intravenous infusion. 

It may administer through intraperitoneal instillation, irrigation, or inhalation. 

Infuse over 30 to 60 minutes. 

Patient Information Leaflet

Patient information leaflet 

Generic Name: kanamycin 

Why do we use kanamycin? 

Kanamycin is used in treatment of susceptible infections.  

Kanamycin injection is also used to treat serious bacterial infections in different parts of the body. 

It belongs to aminoglycoside antibiotics and works by killing bacteria that prevent their growth.