Patient was educated on contraindications for using Gentamicin as follows:
- Patients with history of antibiotic associated diarrhea must be cautious about using Gentamicin. Discuss with your doctor regarding your history of the same.
- Patients with history of opportunistic infections must be cautious about using Gentamicin. Discuss with your doctor regarding your history of the same.
- Gentamicin is contraindicated in individuals with history of diminished hearing, ototoxicity, and vestibular damage, as such patients are at increased risk for hearing loss with the antibiotic. Exacerbation of vestibular dysfunction with the antibiotic can result in poor balance and equilibrium, thus precipitating falls and accidents.
- Gentamicin is usually avoided or used with extreme caution in individuals with history of motor weakness and neuromuscular disorders, such as, myasthenia gravis and Parkinson’s disease. These individuals are at increased risk for slowdown of impulse transmission at neuromuscular junction, resulting in increased motor weakness, muscle twitching, and exacerbation of muscle spasms.
- Gentamicin should be avoided or used with extreme caution in individuals with respiratory complaints, such as, asthma and COPD, as Gentamicin use can result in respiratory muscle weakness with slowing of the respirations and shallow breathing.
