Which two aminoglycosides are used specifically for bowel sterilization?

The two aminoglycosides that are specifically used for bowel sterilization are Neomycin and Kanamycin. These antibiotics are effective in reducing the number of bacteria in the intestines, which can be particularly useful before surgical procedures involving the bowel or in treating conditions that involve bowel cleansing.

Neomycin, in particular, is well-known for its ability to act on both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria within the gastrointestinal tract, making it suitable for this purpose. Similarly, Kanamycin has a similar spectrum of activity and is also used to help in bowel sterilization.

While other aminoglycosides like Gentamicin and Tobramycin are primarily used for systemic infections, they are not specifically indicated for bowel sterilization. Streptomycin and Amikacin are also used to treat various infections but do not have the specific application for preparing the bowel in the same way that Neomycin and Kanamycin do. Chloramphenicol and Vancomycin, while effective antibiotics, do not fall under the aminoglycoside category and are not used for bowel sterilization purposes either.