Definition

Noun: A synthetic antibacterial drug, specifically a sulfa drug (sulfonamide), derived from the chemical combination of pyridine and sulfanilamide. It was historically used to treat certain bacterial infections.

Usage

This word is used specifically in medical and pharmacological contexts to refer to a particular type of antibiotic medication. It is a technical term. - Sulfapyridine was once a common treatment for pneumonia. - The doctor prescribed sulfapyridine for the infection.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Context: Sulfapyridine is often discussed in the history of medicine as an early antibacterial agent, largely superseded by newer antibiotics like penicillin and later generations of sulfa drugs.
  • Sulfapyridine played a significant role in medicine before the widespread availability of penicillin.

Variants and Related Words

• Sulfa drug / Sulphonamide (n): The broader class of synthetic antibacterial drugs to which sulfapyridine belongs.
  • Sulfapyridine is a type of sulfa drug.
• Pyridine (n): The aromatic heterocyclic organic compound that is part of sulfapyridine's chemical structure.
• Sulfanilamide (n): The parent compound of sulfa drugs, from which sulfapyridine is derived.

Synonyms

• Antibacterial agent
• Sulfonamide antibiotic

Noun

1. sulfa drug derived from pyridine and sulfanilamide