Description
Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic complex produced by fermentation of Micromonospora purpurea or M. echinospora. It is a mixture of 3 major components designated as C1 (C21H43N5O7), C1a (C19H39N5O), and C2 (C20H41N5O7). Gentamicin is used as the sulfate salt. Each component consists of five basic nitrogens and requires five equivalents of sulfuric acid per mole of gentamicin base. Gentamicin sulfate is a broad spectrum antibiotic. It inhibits the growth of a wide variety of Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms, including strains resistant to tetracycline, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, and colistin, particularly strains of Pseudomonas, Proteus, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus. It is effective against mycoplasma as well.