Anaphylaxis to intravenous gentamicin: A case-report

Abstract

Gentamicin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, is often used as prophylactic antibiotic therapy in orthopedic surgery. Adverse reactions to aminoglycosides are mostly toxic, with otoxicity and nephrotoxicity being the most common. As regards to hypersensitivity reactions, late type IV reactions, related to the use of ophthalmic preparations or gentamicin-containing bone cement, are more commonly described. Although rare, there are immediate hypersensitivity reactions to gentamicin. The clinical case of a patient with anaphylactic reaction after intravenous administration of prophylactic gentamicin, in the context of orthopedic surgery, is described. In this case, the skin tests proved useful to the diagnosis.