Comparative Activity of Sisomicin, Gentamicin, Kanamycin, and Tobramycin

Abstract

Gentamicin, sisomicin, tobramycin, and kanamycin were compared in parallel tests in vitro and in vivo against a variety of bacterial strains and species. A number of differences were seen in vitro, in particular: (i) the lower activity of kanamycin, (ii) the greater activity of tobramycin against Pseudomonas, (iii) the greater activity of gentamicin and sisomicin against Serratia, and (iv) the generally similar results with tobramycin, gentamicin, and sisomicin against species other than Pseudomonas and Serratia, with the ranking in order of decreasing activity being sisomicin, gentamicin, and tobramycin. Analysis of disc test results suggested that the gentamicin disc is not adequate for testing the susceptibility of all bacteria to sisomicin or tobramycin. In vivo tests did not confirm all specifics of in vitro tests; results of in vivo tests indicated that sisomicin may be the most active. It is suggested that the place of each of the antibiotics in human therapy can best be evaluated by more rigorous in vivo tests and clinical studies rather than extensive in vitro comparisons.

Activity of Five Aminoglycoside Antibiotics In Vitro Against Gram-Negative Bacilli and Staphylococcus aureus

“…The overall differences appeared slight, but it is possible that a twofold increase in activity (assuming equivalent serum levels are achieved) might make a difference in infections caused by organisms such as P. aeruginosa, since peak serum levels attained with gentamicin are just adequate to inhibit most Pseudomonas strains (21). In general, these orders of activity are comparable to those contained in previous reports (10,19), although simultaneous comparisons between BB-K8, butirosin, and sisomicin have not been made.…”

“…Perhaps more significant is that sisomicin and gentamicin consistently demonstrated the most rapid rate of killing, followed by butirosin, BB-K8, and tobramycin. With in vivo tests, sisomicin at doses comparable to gentamicin and tobramycin showed greater activity in experimental mouse infections (19). Although several reasons have been implicated to explain these results, a more rapid rate of bacterial killing could also have been a factor.…”

“…This clinical experience will probably focus on two related trends: first, whether there is increasing incidence of clinical and, bacteriological resistance to gentamicin; and second, whether any of the newver agents demonstrate safer, more potent in vivo activity. Although sisomicin seems more potent than gentamicin and is more active than gentamicin against gentamicin-sensitive strains, there is AMINOGLYCOSIDE ANTIBIOTICS ACTIVITY 625 usually consistent cross-resistance between these two agents (19). BB-K8 appears particularly promising in that it is active against many gentamicin-resistant strains (15) and has the largest inhibitory index for most classes of bacteria which we have studied.…”

Comparative Clinical Pharmacology of Gentamicin, Sisomicin, and Tobramycin

“…Sisomicin has demonstrated superiority in comparison to gentamicin and tobramycin by its better action in animal ,experiments with Enterobacteriaceae infections (3,25,26 The antibiotics were administered by a 1-h intravenous infusion of the respective antibiotic in a dose of 1 mg/kg of body weight. To achieve constant serum concentrations in due time, 70% of the dose was infused with an adjustable perfusor pump (Fa.…”

Sisomicin Versus Netilmicin: In Vitro Susceptibility Testing

“…The similarity of gentamicin and sisomicin has been previously mentioned (2,5,8,9). However, netilmicin has been reported to be significantly more active than gentamicin against clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (6).…”