Tobramycin (Tobi, Tobrex) is a broad-spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic. It is effective against “gram-negative bacillary infections and infections caused by staphylococci when penicillin or other less toxic drugs are contraindicated.” (Vallerand, Sanoski, & Deglin, 2013, p.131) Tobramycin is commonly inhaled to manage Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria in cystic fibrosis patients. Tobramycin inhibits the growth of bacteria at 30S ribosome levels. The antibiotic is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, however, it is rapidly absorbed by intramuscular injection. The peak serum concentration level of tobramycin is reached within 30 to 90 minutes after intramuscular injection. The half-life of tobramycin is 2-4 hours. Studies in pregnant women have shown that there is a possible risk to the fetus with the use of tobramycin, classifying this antibiotic in pregnancy category D. Vallerand, Sanoski and Delgin found that tobramycin crosses the placenta and small amounts can enter through breast milk (p. .131). The benefits of tobramycin therapy may overshadow the potential danger. Tobramycin is effective in reducing the growth and reproduction of gram-negative bacteria. The bacteria P. aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Proteus, Serratia, Acinetobacter, Staphylococcus aureus are sensitive to tobramycin. In the treatment of enterococcal infections, which are part of the normal human intestinal flora, the addition of penicillin is necessary. Tobramycin is used to treat external eye infections, urinary tract infection, Pseudomonas infection, Staphylococcus bacteria infection, and respiratory tract infections. To reduce the creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and maintain the efficiency of tobramycin, this inhaler... half paper. The patient should disinfect the nebulizer parts by boiling them in water every other day of treatment to stop the spread of germs. Be sure to take your medications exactly as directed and do not stop taking them without speaking to your healthcare provider. The nurse should evaluate the effectiveness of any antibiotic treatment to be sure that the infection is clearing and not getting worse. Improvement in the signs and symptoms of the infection should be seen within 5 days. Works Cited April Hazard Vallerand, Cynthia A. Sanoski, and Judith Hopfer Deglin (2013). The thirteenth edition of the Davis Medication Guide for Nurses. Philadelphia: Robert G. Martone Mosby, Inc. (2013). Mosby Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions 9th Edition. Missouri: Deborah VogelPubChem compound (2014). Tobramycin. Retrieved from http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=36294