Optimise Aminoglycoside Use in Clinical Practice

Explore aminoglycoside use in clinical practice with safe and effective methods

Aminoglycosides are a powerful class of antibiotics commonly used to treat severe infections.

On this three-week course, build your foundational understanding of how these antimicrobials work, when and how to use them, and how to monitor patients effectively.

Explore how aminoglycosides work and when to use them

Begin by investigating the mechanisms of aminoglycosides and the bacterial infections they are designed to treat.

You’ll review clinical indications, including empirical therapy, monotherapy, and prophylactic use, as well as risks and potential adverse effects.

Through case studies and real-world applications, you’ll contextualise their clinical relevance.

Master dosing, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic monitoring

Take a deeper dive into pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, focusing on effective dosing strategies and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM).

You’ll explore how gentamicin and other aminoglycosides are administered and adjusted in real clinical settings, ensuring both efficacy and safety.

Apply aminoglycoside strategies in special patient groups

The final week focuses on optimising aminoglycoside use across diverse patient populations, including those with renal impairment, neonates, older adults, pregnant patients, and those with extreme body weight.

You’ll also consider resistance mechanisms and stewardship strategies to ensure responsible antimicrobial use.

This course is aimed at healthcare professionals interested in the clinical application of aminoglycosides, including dosing, monitoring, and stewardship.

This course is aimed at healthcare professionals interested in the clinical application of aminoglycosides, including dosing, monitoring, and stewardship.

• Demonstrate an understanding of how aminoglycosides work, what bacteria they are effective against and their mechanism of action
• Identify the clinical conditions in which these antimicrobials are used and their risks/side effects
• Describe how genetic testing can be used to identify patients at increased risk of developing side effects
• Explain key PK and PD parameters and how they are related to aminoglycoside action and efficacy
• Summarise how aminoglycoside dosing is calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault equation and appreciate the different patient groups where dosing calculations may differ
• Describe the importance of TDM when administering aminoglycosides and associated challenges when interpreting results
• Describe the effects of renal impairment, age, weight, pregnancy and other important clinical scenarios on aminoglycoside dosing and use
• Summarise the key ways microorganisms become resistant to aminoglycosides and explain the clinical implications of such resistance