Aminoglycoside antibiotics are widely used for the empirical treatment of febrile neutropenic patients. They are administered in combination with beta-lactam antibiotics and sometimes with glycopeptide antibiotics. This review sets out to determine which patient populations are most likely to benefit from the administration of aminoglycoside antibiotics. In addition, the efficacy and safety of aminoglycoside antibiotics administered in a single daily dose are discussed in the light of a recent trial.