Capreomycin is a medicine used to treat serious bacterial infections. Its spelling may be tricky, but it can be broken down using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as kæpriːoʊmaɪsɪn. The "c" is pronounced as "k," followed by the "a" sound. The "pre" is pronounced with a long "e" sound, and the "o" is pronounced with its usual short sound. The next syllable is pronounced as "my," and the final syllable is pronounced with a long "e" sound followed by "sin."
Capreomycin is an antibiotic medication that belongs to the class of drugs known as cyclic peptides. It is primarily used to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is the bacterium responsible for causing tuberculosis. Capreomycin works by inhibiting the growth and reproduction of these bacteria, thereby helping to clear the infection.
The drug is administered through intramuscular injection and is typically used in combination with other antibiotics to increase efficacy and prevent the development of drug resistance. Capreomycin is often considered a second-line treatment option for tuberculosis, meaning it is used when first-line drugs have failed or are not available.
There are several potential side effects associated with capreomycin, including kidney damage, hearing loss, and problems with balance and coordination. Regular monitoring of kidney function and hearing ability is necessary during treatment. Additionally, capreomycin is not recommended for use in individuals with known hypersensitivity or allergic reactions to the medication.
Overall, capreomycin is an important antibiotic in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. However, its use is generally reserved for situations when other treatment options have been exhausted, and its potential side effects require careful monitoring during therapy.
The word "capreomycin" is derived from "capreomycin A", which in turn is a combination of "capreolus" and "mycin".
"Capreolus" is the Latin word for "roe deer" and references the source of the compound. Capreomycin was initially isolated from the fermentation broth of a soil bacterium called Streptomyces capreolus, which was found on the intestine of a roe deer.
"Mycin" is a common suffix used for naming antibiotics. It originates from the term "Actinomycin", the first antibiotic discovered from the actinobacteria group. Adding "mycin" to the end of a drug name traditionally indicates that it is an antibiotic. Therefore, the term "capreomycin" signifies that it is an antibiotic derived from the roe deer bacteria.