You're right, Reba. Gentamycin CAN cause hearing impairment. I've actually been given the drug in the past for a severe kidney infection. This was several years ago.
I don't know how widely gent is currently being used since most Dr's seem to go with other drugs first. Also, gent is usually given via IV, so that is NOT something that a Dr is going to prescribe unless the person is in the hospital. I would think that drugs like ethryomycin and zithromax is safer to use, and also, they are more widely used than gent is. I don't think anyone has to worry about hearing loss with these drugs.
