In vitro antibacterial activity of amikacin, a new aminoglycoside, against clinical bacterial isolates from children.

Four hundred and fifty-eight clinical bacterial isolates from a children's hospital were examined for antibiotic susceptibility to amikacin (BB-KS) in comparison with a number of other antibiotics by the disk diffusion and agar dilution methods. The wide spectrum of activity of amikacin against Gram-negative bacteria was confirmed; it included E. coli, Proteus species, Enterobacter species, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Staphylococci were highly sensitive, but other Gram-positive bacteria tested were resistant. A disk zone diameter of 10 mm effectively separated resistant form sensitive bacteria in a standard disk diffusion test.