Kinetics of netilmicin in man.

The kinetics of netilmicin (N-ethyl-sisomicin), an investigational aminoglycoside, have been determined in man following intravenous and intramuscular administration of a dose of 2 mg/kg. After intravenous injection the serum elimination of the antibiotic obeys two-compartment open model kinetics. Distribution and elimination constants are in the range reported for other aminoglycosides, with the exception of the volume of distribution at the steady-state, which appears to be greater than that of sisomicin and of tobramycin. Urinary excretion data suggest that this antibiotic undergoes some degree of tubular reabsorption and appears to be cleared partially by extrarenal processes. After intramuscular administration, the absorption of netilmicin follows first-order kinetics and its physiologic availability is complete.