Amikacin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic used to treat different types of bacterial infections. Amikacin works by binding to the bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit, causing misreading of mRNA and leaving the bacterium unable to synthesize proteins vital to its growth. Amikacin is most often used for treating severe, hospital-acquired infections with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter, and Enterobacter. Serratia marcescens and Providencia stuartii are also included in the spectrum. Amikacin can also be used to treat non-tubercular mycobacterial infections and tuberculosis (if caused by sensitive strains) when first-line drugs fail to control the infection. Amikacin may be combined with a beta-lactam antibiotic for empiric therapy for people with neutropenia and fever. Amikacin has high resistance against bacterial inactivation.
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