Aminoglycoside Allergic Reactions

Abstract

Aminoglycosides are antimicrobial agents that are primarily used for infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens. The purpose of this article is to review the allergic reactions reported in the published literature to aminoglycoside antibiotics. A thorough PubMed search was conducted and excluded non-allergic adverse reactions to aminoglycosides. Allergic reactions to aminoglycosides occur infrequently, but can include cutaneous reactions as well as systemic reactions, including anaphylaxis. Of the evaluated aminoglycosides, gentamicin had the most reported allergic reactions, including the most reports of anaphylaxis, followed by tobramycin, and then amikacin. Most reports of allergic reactions occurred in patients who had a prior exposure to some dosage form of an aminoglycoside. Cross-reactivity among aminoglycosides is common and occurs due to the similarities in their chemical structures. Desensitization protocols to tobramycin have been described in the literature.

The role of antibiotic-loaded bone cement in complicated knee arthroplasty: relevance of gentamicin allergy and benefit from revision surgery, a case control follow-up study and algorithmic approach

“…In our patients, however, the main reason for revision surgery was contact allergy to gentamicin sulfate, as con rmed by positive patch testing. Aminoglycoside antibiotics are well studied contact allergens, [55] known to be responsible for contact dermatitis to topical drugs in particular, with gentamicin sulfate leading the way. [56] In line with this, a longitudinal study of 620 Finnish patients with suspected contact allergy revealed a 4.6% prevalence of positive patch test reactions to gentamicin.…”

The role of antibiotic-loaded bone cement in complicated knee arthroplasty: relevance of gentamicin allergy and benefit from revision surgery — a case control follow-up study and algorithmic approach

“…In our patients, however, the main reason for revision surgery was contact allergy to gentamicin sulfate, as confirmed by positive patch testing. Aminoglycoside antibiotics are well studied contact allergens [ 55 ], known to be responsible for contact dermatitis to topical drugs in particular, with gentamicin sulfate leading the way [ 56 ]. In line with this, a longitudinal study of 620 Finnish patients with suspected contact allergy revealed a 4.6% prevalence of positive patch test reactions to gentamicin [ 57 ].…”

The role of antibiotic-loaded bone cement in complicated knee arthroplasty relevance of gentamicin allergy and benefit from revision surgery, a case control follow-up study

“…In our patients, however, the main reason for revision surgery was contact allergy to gentamicin sulfate, as confirmed by positive patch testing. Aminoglycoside antibiotics are well studied contact allergens, [49] known to be responsible for contact dermatitis to topical drugs in particular, with gentamicin sulfate leading the way. [50] In line with this, a longitudinal study of 620 Finnish patients 9 with suspected contact allergy revealed a 4.6% prevalence of positive patch test reactions to gentamicin.…”