tyrothricin
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. An antibiotic substance: Tyrothricin is a mixture of antibiotic compounds produced by the bacterium Bacillus brevis. It is primarily effective against Gram-positive bacteria.
Usage
Tyrothricin is used as a topical antimicrobial agent. It is applied directly to the skin or mucous membranes to treat localized infections. - It is not used systemically (taken internally or injected) due to its potential toxicity to human cells.
Examples
- The doctor prescribed a topical ointment containing tyrothricin for the bacterial skin infection.
- Tyrothricin is often found in certain throat lozenges and topical creams.
- Due to its narrow spectrum, tyrothricin is only effective against specific types of bacteria.
Advanced Usage
- Historical Context: Tyrothricin, discovered in the 1930s, was one of the first antibiotic substances to be studied in detail. Its discovery helped pave the way for the development of other antibiotics.
- Gram-positive specific: The term "Gram-positive" refers to a classification of bacteria based on a laboratory staining method. Tyrothricin's mechanism of action disrupts the cell membranes of these specific bacteria.
Variants and Related Words
- Gramicidin (noun): One of the two main antibiotic components found within the tyrothricin mixture. The other is tyrocidine.
- Tyrocidine (noun): The other primary antibiotic component of the tyrothricin complex.
Synonyms
- Topical antibiotic: A general term for antibiotics applied to the body's surface.
- Antimicrobial agent: A broader term for any substance that kills or inhibits microorganisms.
Notes
- While tyrothricin itself is a defined mixture, the term is sometimes used more generally in historical or scientific contexts to refer to this early class of polypeptide antibiotics.
- Its use in modern medicine has declined with the advent of broader-spectrum and less toxic antibiotics.
Noun
- a mixture of antibiotics applied locally to infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria