Amikacin is used to treat serious infections caused by susceptible aerobic gram-negative bacilli (eg, a number of the Enterobacteriaceae, P. aeruginosa). Such infections include bacteremias; intra-abdominal, soft tissue (including burns), bone or joint, lower respiratory tract, and complicated urinary tract infections, and meningitis. The major advantage of amikacin is its superior resistance profile. Thus, it is the aminoglycoside of choice for infections caused by aerobic gramnegative bacilli that are known or suspected to be resistant to other aminoglycosides. It should be the aminoglycoside of choice for general use in hospitals where the prevalence of resistance to gentamicin and tobramycin is known to be high or when there is concern about gentamicin- and tobramycin-resistant gram-negative bacilli in a particular clinical situation.