Definition

1. Noun:
   • A synthetic antibacterial agent: Nalidixic acid is a type of antimicrobial drug used to combat bacterial infections.
   • A quinolone antibiotic: It belongs to an early class of antibiotics known as quinolones, which work by inhibiting bacterial DNA replication.

Usage

• Nalidixic acid is prescribed by doctors.
• This medication is primarily used to treat infections.
• Its use has become more limited with the development of newer antibiotics.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor prescribed nalidixic acid for the urinary tract infection.
  • Nalidixic acid was one of the first quinolone antibiotics discovered.
  • Resistance to nalidixic acid is now common in some bacterial strains.

Advanced Usage

• "nalidixic acid resistance": a specific genetic trait in bacteria that allows them to survive exposure to this drug.
  • The lab test confirmed nalidixic acid resistance in the cultured sample.

Variants and Related Words

• Quinolone (n): the broader class of antibiotics to which nalidixic acid belongs.
• Antibacterial (adj/n): describing a substance that kills or inhibits bacteria; a synonym for an antibiotic agent.

Synonyms

• Antibacterial agent: A substance that kills or slows the growth of bacteria.
• Antimicrobial drug: A medication used to treat infections caused by microorganisms.

Notes on Meaning

• While nalidixic acid is an antibiotic, its specific historical and medical context is important. It is not a general-purpose antibiotic but was developed for specific types of infections, particularly those affecting the urinary system. Its role today is often in laboratory settings for testing bacterial susceptibility rather than as a first-line treatment.

Noun

1. antibacterial agent used especially to treat genitourinary infections