Kanamycin (redirected from Kantrex)

kanamycin [‚kan·ə′mīs·ən]

(microbiology)

C₁₈H₃₆O₁₁N₄A water-soluble, basic antibiotic produced by strains ofStreptomyces kanamyceticus;the sulfate salt is effective in infections caused by gram-negative bacteria.

---

Kanamycin 

(Kantrex, Resistomycin), an antibiotic of the amino glycoside group.

Kanamycin was first obtained from the actinomycete Strep-tomyces kanamyceticus in 1957. It is soluble in water, thermostable, and polybasic. Kanamycin is effective against most gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and mycobacteria. It is ineffective against yeasts, fungi, enterococci, and bacteroids. Kanamycin sulfate solution is administered intramuscularly in the treatment of tuberculosis. Although kanamycin has a low level of toxicity, in large doses it produces side effects on the kidneys and acoustic nerves.