Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
Kanamycin
INDICATIONS
HISTORICAL U.S. FDA INDICATIONS
HISTORICAL U.S. FDA INDICATIONS
- No longer routinely used for these indications.
- Short-term treatment of infections caused by E. coli, Proteus species (indole-positive and indole-negative), Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, and Acinetobacter species.
- Note: other aminoglycosides, including gentamicin, tobramycin, and/or amikacin, are preferred in this setting.
- Hepatic encephalopathy (oral formulation)
- Bowel decontamination (oral formulation)
- Short-term treatment of infections caused by E. coli, Proteus species (indole-positive and indole-negative), Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, and Acinetobacter species.
OTHER/HISTORICAL USES
OTHER/HISTORICAL USES
- Historically used for NTM infections. Current ATS/ERS/ESCMID/IDSA guidelines do not recommend kanamycin. When a parenteral aminoglycoside is indicated, amikacin is generally preferred; streptomycin remains an option for selected cases of MAC disease.
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Last updated: October 10, 2026
Citation
Auwaerter, Paul G, and Y. V Tsai. "Kanamycin." Johns Hopkins ABX Guide Johns Hopkins ABX Guide, The Johns Hopkins University, 2026. Johns Hopkins Guides, www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540299/all/Kanamycin.
Auwaerter PG, Tsai YV. Kanamycin. Johns Hopkins ABX Guide Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2026. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540299/all/Kanamycin. Accessed October 12, 2026.
Auwaerter, P. G., & Tsai, Y. V. (2026). Kanamycin. In Johns Hopkins ABX Guide Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540299/all/Kanamycin
Auwaerter PG, Tsai YV. Kanamycin [Internet]. In: Johns Hopkins ABX Guide Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. The Johns Hopkins University; 2026. [cited 2026 October 12]. Available from: https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540299/all/Kanamycin.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Kanamycin
ID - 540299
A1 - Auwaerter,Paul,M.D.
AU - Tsai,Y.,Pharm.D.
Y1 - 2026/10/10/
BT - Johns Hopkins ABX Guide
UR - https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540299/all/Kanamycin
PB - The Johns Hopkins University
DB - Johns Hopkins Guides
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -
