Gentamicin is a type of antibiotic medication used to treat bacterial infections. It is commonly used to treat different infections such as urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, and skin infections. Gentamicin is also known by other names including Garamycin and Gentacidin. There are other antibiotics that are similar to gentamicin, such as tobramycin and amikacin, which belong to the same class of antibiotics called aminoglycosides. These antibiotics work by killing bacteria or stopping the bacteria from growing and multiplying. While gentamicin is an effective antibiotic, there are potential side effects, such as kidney damage, that can occur if it is used improperly.