Definition

Noun: 1. An antibiotic drug: A specific antibiotic substance derived from certain actinomycete bacteria (Streptomyces niveus or Streptomyces spheroides), historically used to treat infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria, particularly staphylococci that were resistant to penicillin.

Usage

• Novobiocin functions as a countable noun when referring to doses or specific instances of the drug (e.g., ). It is more commonly used as a mass noun when referring to the substance in general.
• It is primarily used in medical, pharmacological, and historical scientific contexts.

Examples

• General Use:
  • Novobiocin was once a critical tool for treating penicillin-resistant staphylococcal infections.
  • The doctor prescribed novobiocin for the stubborn bacterial infection.
• Scientific/Historical Context:
  • The study compared the efficacy of novobiocin to that of newer antibiotics.
  • Resistance to novobiocin has limited its clinical use in modern medicine.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Significance: The term is often used in historical discussions of antibiotic development. Its usage highlights the ongoing battle between drug discovery and bacterial resistance.
  • The rise of novobiocin in the 1950s provided a temporary solution to the growing problem of penicillin resistance.

Variants and Related Words

• Novobiocin sodium: The water-soluble sodium salt form of novobiocin, which was the typical formulation for clinical administration.
  • The patient received an injection of novobiocin sodium.

Synonyms

• Albamycin (a former brand/trade name for novobiocin).
• Cathomycin (a former brand/trade name for novobiocin).

Note: "Novobiocin" is a highly specific scientific term with very few direct synonyms outside of its historical brand names.

Noun

1. an antibiotic obtained from an actinomycete and used to treat infections by Gram-positive bacteria