Definition

1. Noun:
   • An antibiotic drug: Chloramphenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic effective against a variety of bacteria. It is particularly known for its use in treating serious infections.
   • A specific medicinal compound: It is a bacteriostatic antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis.

Usage

• Chloramphenicol is primarily used to treat serious bacterial infections where other antibiotics may be ineffective or unsuitable.
• Due to potential serious side effects, such as bone marrow toxicity, its use is typically reserved for severe infections and is administered under close medical supervision.
• It is effective against certain rickettsial diseases and is a classic treatment for typhoid fever.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor prescribed chloramphenicol for the patient's typhoid fever.
  • Chloramphenicol is a critical antibiotic in the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.
  • The use of chloramphenicol in food-producing animals is banned in many countries due to human health concerns.

Advanced Usage

• "Chloramphenicol resistance": Refers to the ability of bacteria to withstand the effects of the antibiotic.
  • The emergence of chloramphenicol resistance is a significant public health concern.
• "Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase": An enzyme produced by resistant bacteria that inactivates the drug.
  • The gene for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase is often used as a selectable marker in genetic engineering.

Variants and Related Words

• Chloromycetin (n): A common trade name for chloramphenicol.
  • Chloromycetin was the brand name under which the antibiotic was first marketed.

Synonyms

• Antibiotic: A general term for a substance that inhibits or destroys microorganisms.
• Bacteriostatic agent: A substance that stops bacteria from reproducing.

Notes on Different Meanings

• The word chloramphenicol refers specifically to the chemical compound and drug. It does not have other common metaphorical or non-medical meanings. Its usage is almost exclusively within medical, pharmaceutical, and microbiological contexts.

Noun

1. an oral antibiotic (trade name Chloromycetin) used to treat serious infections (especially typhoid fever)