antibiotic /an·ti·bi·ot·ic/ (-bi-ot´ik) a chemical substance produced by a microorganism, which has the capacity to inhibit the growth of or to kill other microorganisms; antibiotics sufficiently nontoxic to the host are used in the treatment of infectious diseases.
Antibiotic
antibiotic
antibiotic,
antibiotic (an´tibīot´ik),
antibiotic
Patient discussion about antibiotic drugs.
broad-spectrum antibiotic one effective against a wide range of bacteria.
β-lactam antibiotic any of a group of antibiotics, including the cephalosporins and the penicillins, whose chemical structure contains a β ring; they inhibit synthesis of the bacterial peptidoglycan wall.
an·ti·bi·ot·ic ( n t -b - t k, nt-)n. A substance, such as penicillin or streptomycin, produced by or derived from certain fungi, bacteria, and other organisms, that can destroy or inhibit the growth of other microorganisms. adj. 1. Of or relating to antibiotics. 2. Of or relating to antibiosis. |
Antibiotic
A chemical substance produced by a microorganism which can inhibit the growth of or kill other microorganisms.
Mentioned in: Antiseptics, Antiulcer Drugs, Campylobacteriosis, Cholangitis, Clenched Fist Injury, Enterovirus Infections, Fever of Unknown Origin, Helicobacteriosis, Nasopharyngeal Culture, Ototoxicity, Prophylaxis, Shigellosis, Throat Culture
antibiotic
[-bī·ot′ik]
Etymology: Gk, anti + bios, life
1 pertaining to the ability to destroy or interfere with the development of a living organism.
2 an antimicrobial agent, derived from cultures of a microorganism or produced semisynthetically, used to treat infections. The penicillins, derived from species of the fungus Penicillium or manufactured semisynthetically, consist of a thiazolidine ring fused to a beta-lactam ring connected to side chains; these agents exert their action by inhibiting mucopeptide synthesis in bacterial plasma walls during multiplication of the organisms. Penicillin G is widely used to treat many gram-positive coccal infections. Aminoglycoside antibiotics, composed of amino sugars in glycoside linkage, interfere with the synthesis of bacterial proteins and are used primarily for treating infections caused by gram-negative organisms. The aminoglycosides include gentamicin sulfate derived from Micromonospora, semisynthetic amikacin sulfate, kanamycin sulfate, neomycin sulfate, streptomycin sulfate, and tobramycin sulfate. These agents commonly cause nephrotoxic and ototoxic reactions as well as GI disturbances. Macrolide antibiotics, consisting of a large lactone ring and deoxamino sugar, interfere in the protein synthesis of susceptible bacteria during multiplication without affecting nucleic acid synthesis. They are produced by actinomycetes or their derivatives, with the name derived from the large size of the molecules. Macrolides are generally used against gram-positive bacteria and in patients allergic to penicillins. Oleandomycin, which is added to feed to improve the growth of poultry and swine, and broad-spectrum erythromycin, used to treat various gram-positive and gram-negative infections and intestinal amebiasis, are macrolides derived from species of Streptomyces. Erythromycin may cause mild allergic reactions and GI discomfort, but nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea occur infrequently with the usual oral dose. Polypeptide antibiotics derived from species of Streptomyces or certain soil bacilli vary in their spectra; most agents are nephrotoxic and ototoxic. Bacitracin and vancomycin are polypeptides used to treat severe staphylococcal infections; capreomycin and vancomycin are antitubercular agents; and gramicidin is included in ointments for topical infections. Among polypeptide antibiotics effective against gram-negative organisms, colistin sulfate and neomycin sulfate are administered for diarrhea caused by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. The tetracycline antibiotics, including the prototype derived from Streptomyces, chlortetracycline HCl, demeclocycline HCl, doxycycline, minocycline HCl, and oxytetracycline, are active against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative organisms and some rickettsiae. Antibiotics in this group are primarily bacteriostatic and are thought to exert their effect by inhibiting protein synthesis in the organisms. Tetracycline therapy may cause GI irritation, photosensitivity, nephrotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity. Administering a drug of this group in patients during the last half of pregnancy or before 8 years of age may result in permanent discoloration of the teeth. The cephalosporin antibiotics, derived from the soil fungus Cephalosporium falciforme or produced semisynthetically, inhibit bacterial plasma wall synthesis and resist the action of penicillinase. Cephalosporins are similar in structure to penicillins except for a beta-lactam dihydrothiazine ring in place of beta-lactam thiazolidin in penicillin. They are used in treating infections of the respiratory tract, urinary tract, middle ear, and bones, as well as septicemia caused by a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. The group includes cefadroxil monohydrate, cefamandole nafate, cefazolin, cephalexin, cephaloglycin, cephaloridine, cephalothin sodium, cephapirin, and cephradine. Treatment with a cephalosporin may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, enterocolitis, or an allergic reaction, such as a rash, angioedema, or exfoliative dermatitis; use of antibiotics in this group is contraindicated in patients who have shown hypersensitivity to a penicillin. Chloramphenicol, a broad-spectrum antibiotic initially derived from Streptomyces venezuelae, inhibits protein synthesis in bacteria. Because the drug may cause life-threatening blood dyscrasias, its use is reserved for the treatment of acute typhoid fever, serious gram-negative infections (including meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae), and rickettsial diseases.
antibiotic,
n a substance that combats bacterial infection by killing bacteria or stopping bacterial growth.
antibiotic (an´tibīot´ik),
n an organic substance produced by one of several microorganisms, especially certain molds, that is capable, in low concentration, of destroying or inhibiting the growth of certain other microorganisms.
antibiotic, oral reactions to,
n the manifestations on the oral mucous membrane of reactions to antibiotics; characterized by glossitis, angular cheilosis, and/or a hairy tongue. Reactions may result from an imbalance of oral flora produced by the antibiotics or from hypersensitivity to the antibiotics.
antibiotic prophylaxis
n the use of an antibiotic to protect a patient from an anticipated bacterial invasion associated with a medical or dental invasive procedure, particularly patients with a compromised cardiovascular system and risk of bacterial endocarditis.
antibiotic, subgingival placement,
n the administration of antimicrobials in the subgingival region to control bacterial infections and manage periodontal disease.
antibiotic therapy,
n See therapy, antibiotic.
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antibiotic
1. destructive of life.
2. a chemical substance produced by a microorganism that has the capacity, in dilute solutions, to kill (biocidal activity) or inhibit the growth (biostatic activity) of other microorganisms. Antibiotics that are sufficiently nontoxic to the host are used as chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of infectious diseases. See also antimicrobial.
3. used as feed additives to animals as growth promotants.
anthracycline a's
a group of antibiotics which have a tetracycline ring structure substituted with the sugar daunosamine. Includes the antineoplastic drugs doxorubicin and daunorubicin.
antineoplastic antibiotic
see antineoplastic.
bactericidal antibiotic
one that kills bacteria.
bacteriostatic antibiotic
one that suppresses the growth of bacteria.
broad-spectrum antibiotic
one that is effective against a wide range of bacteria.
antibiotic detection
on-farm and prepackaged laboratory tests available for testing farm products and animal tissues and fluids for antibiotic residues.
antibiotic drugs
the range includes the following groups: penicillin, aminoglycoside, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, macrolide, nitrofuran, cephalosporins, and a miscellaneous group including bacitracin, tyrothricin, polymyxin, colistin.
antibiotic feed additives
see feed additives.
first generation antibiotic
one produced as a natural product, e.g. penicillin G. See second generation antibiotic (below).
antibiotic food preservation
is a satisfactory technique but very strictly controlled because of the problem of residues in the food. Used mostly for the preservation of fish.
antibiotic-induced diarrhea
see pseudomembranous colitis, acute undifferentiated diarrhea of the horse.
antibiotic residue in food
in human food of animal origin is a seriously regarded pollution in public health surveillance. The residues may arise from systemic administration, or even after absorption from a local site such as the uterus, but the most serious contamination arises from milk from quarters that have been treated for mastitis. It is essential for the safety of the human population, the financial well-being of the farmer and the professional reputation of the veterinarian that antibacterial withdrawal times are observed.
antibiotic resistance
see antimicrobial resistance.
second generation antibiotic
produced by manipulation of the molecular structure of a first generation antibiotic (see above) so that the metabolism and pharmacodynamics of the original compound are significantly altered.
antibiotic sensitivity test
see antimicrobial sensitivity test.
antibiotic therapy
antibiotics vary in their absorption from the alimentary tract, requiring some, e.g. streptomycin, to be given parenterally for systemic effect, freedom from toxicity, the range of bacteria against which they are effective, their capacity to stimulate resistance and whether they are bacteriostatic or bactericidal in their effects. Selection of the most suitable antibiotic to suit a particular circumstance may be guided by an antimicrobial sensitivity test, knowledge of the infection present and the price of the drug. In many instances, because of lack of knowledge of the infection present it is necessary to choose an agent with a broad antibacterial spectrum.
antibiotic withdrawal, antibiotic withholding
see antibacterial withdrawal time.
antibiotic
1. Pertaining to the ability to destroy or inhibit other living organisms.
2. A substance derived from a mould or bacterium, or produced synthetically, that destroys (bactericidal) or inhibits the growth (bacteriostatic) of other microorganisms and is thus used to treat infections. Some substances have a narrow spectrum of activity whereas others act against a wide range of both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms (broad-spectrum antibiotics). Antibiotics can be classified into several groups according to their mode of action on or within bacteria: (1) Drugs inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, such as bacitracin, vancomycin and the β-lactams based agents (e.g. penicillin, cephalosporins (e.g. ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime). (2) Drugs affecting the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane, such as polymyxin B sulfate and gramicidin. (3) Drugs inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis, such as aminoglycosides (e.g. amikacin sulfate, framycetin sulfate, gentamicin, neomycin sulfate and tobramycin), tetracyclines, macrolides (e.g. erythromycin and azithromycin) and chloramphenicol. (4) Drugs inhibiting the intermediate metabolism of bacteria, such as sulfonamides (e.g. sulfacetamide sodium) and trimethoprim. (5) Drugs inhibiting bacterial DNA synthesis, such as nalixidic acid and fluoroquinolones (e.g. ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin). (6) Other antibiotics such as fusidic acid, the diamidines, such as propamidine isethionate and dibrompropamidine. Syn. antibacterial. See antiinflammatory drug; fusidic acid.
antibiotic
adjective Relating to the destruction of living things noun Medtalk 1. An agent obtained directly from a yeast or other organism which is used against a bacterial infection 2. Any agent used to kill or reduce the
growth of any infectious agent, including viruses, fungi and parasites. See Drug resistance, Macrolide antibiotic, Polyene antibiotic Molecular biology A substance that interferes with a particular step of cellular metabolism, causing either
bactericidal or bacteriostatic inhibition; sometimes restricted to those having a natural biological origin.
Patient discussion about antibiotic drugs.
Q. Can I Drink Alcohol While Taking Antibiotics? I have been prescribed antibiotics for 10 days due to a strep throat infection. Can I still go out and drink alcohol while taking the antibiotics?
A. no guy you can't, and if you really want to increase your HDL you shoul't drink alcohol.
Q. Is it really necessary to take antibiotic the whole week? Three days ago my 10 years-old son had a sore throat, after a very short examination the doctor said my son has pharyngitis and that he has to take antibiotics for ten days. He took it for two days and now he no long has any sore throat- Why does he have to take the antibiotic for so long? I don’t want him to take too many medications…
A. 100% vital. If the bacteria survive due to insufficient dosage they will become stronger as a result and the problem will worsen
Q. What Are Common Side Effects of Antibiotics? My 5 year old son had an ear infection and was given antibiotics for a few days. What are the known side effects for some of the common antibiotics?
A. Possible side effects of antibiotic medications are varied, depending on the antibiotics used and the microbial organisms we wish to treat. Adverse effects can range from fever and nausea to major allergic reactions. The most common side effects are gastrointestinal- mostly nausea, vomiting, “upset stomach” and diarrhea. Allergic reactions can be mild (rash) and rarely severe (anaphylactic shock). Some antibiotics can cause kidney damage, however this is also very rare.
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