Cephalexin Monohydrate is a pharmaceutical compound used to treat bacterial infections. The spelling of the word can be explained using IPA phonetic transcription. "Kɛfəlɛksɪn" represents the pronunciation of the first part of the word, which contains the drug's active ingredient. "Mɑnəhaɪdreɪt" represents the second part of the word and refers to the specific crystalline form of the compound. Understanding the pronunciation and spelling of medical terms is important for healthcare professionals to ensure proper communication and documentation of patient care.
Cephalexin monohydrate is an antibiotic medication that belongs to the class of drugs known as cephalosporins. It is commonly used to treat various bacterial infections caused by strains that are susceptible to its action. This medication is derived from the cephalosporin C molecule and is primarily used to combat infections in the respiratory tract, skin, urinary tract, and middle ear.
Cephalexin monohydrate works by inhibiting the growth of bacteria and eliminating existing bacteria in the body. It achieves this by interfering with the synthesis of bacterial cell walls, ultimately leading to their destruction. This antibiotic is effective against a wide range of gram-positive and some gram-negative bacteria, including Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Administration of cephalexin monohydrate is typically done orally, and dosage depends on the severity of the infection and individual patient factors. Common side effects include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and stomach upset. It is essential to complete the full course of treatment as directed by a healthcare professional, even if symptoms improve, to ensure the complete eradication of the infection.
As with any medication, cephalexin monohydrate may interact with other drugs, so it is important to disclose all current medications or supplements being taken to a healthcare provider. This will help prevent any potential drug interactions or unwanted effects.
The word "cephalexin" is derived from cephalosporin, which refers to a class of antibiotics. Cephalosporin itself originates from the Latin word "cephalus", meaning head, and the Greek word "spora", meaning seed or spore. This name was given to the antibiotic due to its discovery from the fungus Acremonium (formerly called Cephalosporium).
The term "monohydrate" refers to the presence of a single molecule of water in the chemical structure. "Monohydrate" is derived from the Greek words "mono", meaning one, and "hydratos", meaning water. It is commonly used to indicate the specific crystalline form or composition of a substance. In the case of cephalexin, it indicates the presence of one molecule of water in each unit of the compound.