Gentisone is a combination antibiotic/steroid ear drop used to treat bacterial infections of the ear canal (Otitis externa).

It consists of the aminoglycoside antibiotic Gentamicin and hydrocortisone, a topical steroid which in combination treats both the cause and the painful symptoms of Otitis externa

Otitis externa

Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic that like other antibiotics in that class, inhibits bacterial protein synthesis, killing the bacteria which is unable to perform vital functions - hydrocortisone is a steroid and helps to reduce potentially painful inflammation locally

Child - 2-4 drops 4-5 X daily (including a dose at bedtime)

Adult - 2-4 drops 4-5 X daily (including a dose at bedtime)

*This medicine MUST NOT BE USED if you are suffering with a perforated ear drum as Gentamicin can be toxic to hearing*

Renal damage - when used orally, there is quite a high risk of acute renal failure, particularly when used with other medicines toxic to the kidneys but the risk with ear drops is very low

Ototoxicity - risk of damage to hearing is approximately about 10% but this too is based on oral administration - the risk with ear drops is very small but this is why these ear drops MUST NOT BE USED if there is a concurrent perforated ear drum

Avoid if any sensitivity or allergy to the aminoglycoside class of antibiotics

Not containdicated

Risk of auditory or vestibular nerve damage is very small with gentamicin but it's use should probably be avoided unless essential

The safety of gentamicin use in Nursing mothers is not known but there are detectable levels found in both breast milk and in nursing babies