Description

Neomycin C is a tetracyclic aminoglycoside antibiotic derived from Streptomyces fradiae. Along with Neomycin B, Neomycin C is one of the active components of the broader Neomycin complex. Studies comparing the efficacy of the two against Staphylococcus epidermidis suggest that Neomycin C is approximately 50 percent as biologically active as Neomycin B. This antibiotic binds to the 30S ribosomal subunit within bacterial cells, thus causing DNA to be misread and ultimately leading to cell death. Neomycin C is particularly active against Gram-positive bacteria.

Applications

In laboratory use, Neomycin C is often used as a selection marker to isolate bacteria which have developed resistance to the Neomycin complex. In its sulfate form, Neomycin may also be administered clinically as a means to suppress intestinal bacteria prior to surgical operations. Under some circumstances, Neomycin may be administered as a topical antibiotic, though high rates of contact sensitivity have been reported in conjunction with this application.

• Neomycin is also used in milk replacers in combination with oxytetracycline to control and prevent diseases in cattle.
• In vitro studies have indicated that neomycin C is 50% as active as neomycin B against Staphylococcus epidermidis.