ABSTRACT
Aminoglycosides are active against aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria growing under aerobic conditions. Astromicin was less active against strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobactercloacae, and Pseudomonas spp. isolated from the clinic than gentamicin, dibekacin, and kanamycin. Against netilmicin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the therapeutic effect of astromicin was comparable to that of amikacin. T. W. Miller et al. reported isepamicin, having a S-a-hydroxy-ß-aminopropionyl group at the 1-N-position of gentamicin B. The in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of arbekacin (HBK) werecompared with those of gentamicin, dibekacin, amikacin, and netilmicin. The structure of HBK is characterized by 3', 4'-dideoxy kanamycin B, having an (S)-4-amino 2-hydroxybutryl group at the 1-N position. HBK had greater activity against gentamicin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcescens, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa than amikacin. The pharmacokinetics of HBK were investigated in 6 male healthy volunteers after a single intramuscular 1.5 mg/kg administration.
