Pharmacotherapeutic group: intestinal antiinfectives; antibiotics.
ATC vet code: QA07AA06.
Pharmacodynamic properties
Paromomycin belongs to the group of aminoglycoside antibiotics. Paromomycin changes the reading of messenger-RNA, which disrupts protein synthesis. The bactericidal activity of paromomycin is mainly attributed to its irreversible binding to ribosomes. Paromomycin has broad spectrum activity against numerous Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including E. coli.
Paromomycin acts in a concentration-dependent manner. Four mechanisms of resistance have been identified: changes of the ribosome, reduction of permeability, inactivation by enzymes and substitution of the molecular target. The first three resistance mechanisms arise from mutations of certain genes on chromosomes or plasmids. The fourth resistance mechanism only occurs following intake of a transposon or plasmid coding for resistance. Paromomycin selects for resistance and cross-resistances at high frequency against a variety of other aminoglycosides among intestinal bacteria.
Pharmacokinetic properties
Following oral administration of paromomycin, hardly any absorption takes place and the molecule is eliminated unchanged via the faeces.