Tobramycin Uses

Tobramycin ophthalmic belongs to a group of antibiotics called aminoglycosides. It is used to treat external bacterial infections of the eye and eyelid. 

Tobramycin injection is used to treat serious lower respiratory tract infections, intra-abdominal infections, and bacterial infections of the brain, bones, joints, gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, skin, and blood. Injected tobramycin is effective against infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and others. 

Inhaled tobramycin is used to manage Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis patients. 

There may be other uses of tobramycin—your pharmacist or doctor can give you further drug information.

Tobramycin Mechanism of Action

Tobramycin works by killing susceptible bacteria that cause eye infections. It works against only bacterial infections and not against viral and fungal infections.

Tobramycin Doses

Tobramycin is available as an ophthalmic solution (eye drops) and ophthalmic ointment. The usual dose for mild to moderate infections is 1-2 drops in the affected eye(s) every 4 hours. For serious bacterial infections, the dose is 2 drops in the affected eye(s) every hour until the eye infection symptoms disappear. The eye ointment should be used 2-3 times a day for mild to moderate eye infections and every 3-4 hours for serious infections.