Gentamicin Poisoning
If Gentamicin is not administered appropriately, it can cause serious damage to the eyes and/or kidneys. This is called Gentamicin toxicity.
What is Gentamicin?
Gentamicin is a type of antibiotic. It is a powerful type of antibiotic and is most commonly used to treat illnesses such as MRSA, C Diff and lung infections.
If used properly, Gentamicin can be a very useful form of treatment, especially if the patient is allergic to other types of antibiotic.
However, the administration of Gentamicin must be carefully considered because if there is too much Gentamicin in the bloodstream it can cause serious side effects.
Therefore because prescribing Gentamicin, medical practitioners must calculate the dosage according to the patient's age, height and weight. Regular blood checks must also be carried out to ensure the level of Gentamicin in the blood is not harmful.
Can anyone have Gentamicin?
Not everyone can have Gentamicin. The antibiotic is contraindicated in people with kidney dysfunction and inner ear problems, as the medication can exacerbate the problem.
What happens if Gentamicin is not administered properly?
If Gentamicin is given to a patient with kidney/ear issues, or the dose is too high/given for too long, health complications will arise. This is called Gentamicin poisoning or Gentamicin toxicity.
Gentamicin poisoning can result in the following complications:
- Kidney damage and kidney failure – called nephrotoxicity
- Inner ear damage – called ototoxicity
- Issues with balance, memory, concentration, fatigue, tinnitus and bouncing vision
Claiming compensation for Gentamicin poisoning
The effects of Gentamicin poisoning are often permanent. This can devastate a patient's life, and can even cause life-threatening illness if renal failure arises.
If you or your loved one has fallen seriously unwell after being given Gentamicin, you need to speak to a solicitor. It may be that medical practitioners neglected to:
- Check whether or not a patient was suitable to have Gentamicin, overlooking their history of kidney dysfunction/inner ear problems
- Calculate a safe dose
- Monitor the patient's Gentamicin levels and amend the dose accordingly
If there was a substandard level of medical care, such as the examples described above, there could be grounds for a medical compensation claim.
Contact us
To learn more about Gentamicin poisoning and Gentamicin claims, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at Glynns Solicitors. We are a team of clinical negligence lawyers with experience of Gentamicin claims. We will advise whether you have grounds for a claim during a free initial enquiry.
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To find out more about making a medical negligence claim, please get in touch with our team today. We will advise whether or not you are eligible to pursue a claim for compensation. If so, we can help you get the financial redress you deserve.
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