Cephapirin, a type of antibiotic medication, is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /sɛfəˈpaɪrɪn/. This phonetic transcription provides a detailed and accurate representation of the word's pronunciation. The first syllable, "sef," is pronounced with a short "e" sound and the stress falls on the second syllable, "pa." The final syllable, "rin," is pronounced with an "ih" sound followed by a nasal "n." Overall, the IPA spelling of Cephapirin offers a clear and precise indication of the word's phonetic structure.
Cephapirin is a noun that refers to a semi-synthetic antibiotic belonging to the cephalosporin class. It is derived from 7-aminocephalosporanic acid and is commonly used in veterinary medicine. Cephapirin is primarily indicated for the treatment of bacterial infections in cows, particularly mastitis, which is an inflammation of the udder. Mastitis is a common condition found in dairy cows that can negatively impact milk production and quality.
As an antibiotic, cephapirin works by inhibiting the growth and multiplication of susceptible bacteria. It achieves this by interfering with the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall, thus weakening and ultimately leading to the death of the bacteria. Cephapirin has a broad spectrum of activity against both gram-positive and some gram-negative bacteria, making it effective against a variety of pathogens commonly associated with mastitis.
Cephapirin is available as an injectable formulation and is typically administered intramuscularly into the hindquarter of the affected cow. The drug is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and distributed to the site of infection. Cephapirin is generally well-tolerated, but like other antibiotics, it may cause certain side effects such as allergic reactions, gastrointestinal disturbances, or local injection site reactions.
Overall, cephapirin is a valuable and widely used antibiotic in veterinary medicine, particularly in the treatment of mastitis in dairy cows. Its efficacy, safety profile, and convenient administration route make it a preferred choice for controlling bacterial infections in these animals.
The word "Cephapirin" is derived from two main components: "ceph-" and "-pirin".
The prefix "ceph-" refers to the cephalosporins, which are a class of antibiotics. The term "cephalosporin" comes from the source of their discovery, which is a type of bacteria called Cephalosporium. The bacteria were first isolated from a sewer in Sardinia, Italy, in 1945, by the Italian pharmacologist Giuseppe Brotzu. As a tribute to this discovery, the antibiotics derived from Cephalosporium were named "cephalosporins" and their name has been retained ever since.
The suffix "-pirin" is likely added to indicate the similarity of Cephapirin to another antibiotic called penicillin.