Ototoxicity studies with BB-K8, a new semisynthetic aminoglycoside antibiotic.

BB-K 8, a new semisynthetic aminoglycosidic antibiotic, was evaluated for ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity and neuromuscular blocking activity in the cat. As a reference, kanamycin was tested by the same experimental methods. Employing equivalent doses in terms of the free base and 7 days of intraperitoneal treatment, BB-K8 and kanamycin were found to be similarly ototoxic and nephrotoxic. Acutely, both compounds also demonstrated a similar neuromuscular blocking activity after large intravenous doses.