Aminoglycoside antibiotics remain essential for treating serious neonatal and pediatric infections, yet carry a well-documented risk of permanent auditory and vestibular toxicity. This review examines the pharmacological mechanisms of ototoxicity in pediatric populations, identifies those at highest risk, and assesses current prevention, monitoring, and management strategies.
Clinicians treating neonates and children with aminoglycosides should be aware of evidence-based monitoring and prevention strategies outlined in this review, but specific protocol changes should be evaluated against local guidelines.
Aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss remains a leading cause of preventable acquired deafness in children, and a current translational synthesis of mechanisms and management options is directly relevant to audiologists involved in ototoxicity monitoring programs.
- 01Reviews mechanisms of aminoglycoside-induced cochlear and vestibular toxicity in neonates and children.
- 02Covers both prevention strategies (e.g., dosing regimens, genetic screening) and management options.
- 03Translational scope bridges basic-science findings and clinical application.
- 04Published in Frontiers in Pharmacology; no abstract details provided beyond title.
Aminoglycosides can cause hearing loss and vestibular damage in neonates and children.
studysupportedPrevention and management strategies for aminoglycoside ototoxicity exist and are reviewed translationally.
guidelinepartially supported- PMID
- 42358372
- DOI
- 10.3389/fphar.2026.1823729.
- Journal
- Frontiers in Pharmacology
- Publication type
- review
- Evidence level
- 2a
- Population
- Neonates and children exposed to aminoglycoside antibiotics
- Intervention
- Aminoglycoside antibiotic exposure
Primary outcomes
Mechanisms of aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss; Prevention strategies for ototoxicity; Management approaches for aminoglycoside-induced hearing and vestibular damage