chloramphenicol

[ klawr-am-fen-i-kawl, -kol, klohr- ]

noun

, Pharmacology.

1. a colorless, crystalline, slightly water-soluble antibiotic, C 11 H 12 Cl 2 N 2 O 5 , obtained from cultures of Streptomyces venezuelae or synthesized: used chiefly in the treatment of infections caused by certain bacteria, by rickettsiae, and by certain viruses.

chloramphenicol

/ ˌklɔːræmˈfɛnɪˌkɒl /

noun

1. a broad-spectrum antibiotic used esp in treating typhoid fever and rickettsial infections: obtained from the bacterium Streptomyces venezuelae or synthesized. Formula: C 11 H 12 N 2 O 5 Cl 2

chloramphenicol

/ klôr′ăm-fĕn′ĭ-kôl′,-kōl′ /

1. An antibiotic derived from the soil bacterium Streptomyces venezuelae or produced synthetically, and effective against a broad spectrum of microorganisms. Chemical formula: C 11 H 12 Cl 2 N 2 O 5 .

Word History and Origins

Origin of chloramphenicol¹

First recorded in 1945–50; chlor- ² + am(ido)- + phe(no)- + ni(tr)- + (gly)col

Word History and Origins

Origin of chloramphenicol¹

C20: from chloro- + am ( ido ) - + phe ( no ) - + ni ( tro ) - + ( gly ) col

Example Sentences

Ltd. that contained the banned chemical, chloramphenicol, were destroyed, the General Administration of Customs of China announced.

From Seattle Times

Staph aureus increased resistance to other antibiotics: oxacillin, chloramphenicol and erythromycin.

From Washington Post

In 1943, there was streptomycin, the first cure for tuberculosis, and on the heels of that came chloramphenicol, chlortetracycline, neomycin, erythromycin.

From The New Yorker

The lizards also were resistant to antibiotics commonly used in Southeast Asia, such as chloramphenicol, aminopenicillins and tetracyclines.

From US News

At first, the detection of transshipped honey relied on a simple test for an unapproved antibiotic, chloramphenicol, discovered in Chinese honey.

From New York Times