GENTAMICIN Meaning and
Definition
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Gentamicin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic medication that belongs to the class of drugs known as aminoglycosides. It is primarily used to treat bacterial infections caused by susceptible organisms. This medication is commonly prescribed to combat various types of bacterial infections, particularly those affecting the respiratory tract, urinary tract, skin, and soft tissues, as well as certain types of bloodstream infections.
Gentamicin works by inhibiting the growth and multiplication of bacterial cells. It achieves this by binding to specific components of the bacterial ribosome, thereby disrupting protein synthesis. Such action ultimately leads to the destruction of the bacterial cell and helps in clearing the infection. However, it is important to note that gentamicin is ineffective against infections caused by viruses or fungi.
This antibiotic is typically administered intravenously or through intramuscular injection. The dosage and duration of treatment vary based on the infection being treated, the patient's weight, kidney function, and other factors. Gentamicin is known for its distinctive therapeutic monitoring, where blood levels of the drug are periodically measured to ensure effectiveness while avoiding toxicity. This is crucial as gentamicin can cause adverse effects, particularly to the kidneys and ears.
In summary, gentamicin is a potent antibiotic used to treat a broad range of bacterial infections. It effectively inhibits bacterial growth, particularly in respiratory, urinary, skin, and bloodstream infections. Careful monitoring is essential to adjust the dosage as needed and to minimize the risk of potential side effects.
Common Misspellings for GENTAMICIN
- fentamicin
- ventamicin
- bentamicin
- hentamicin
- yentamicin
- tentamicin
- gwntamicin
- gsntamicin
- gdntamicin
- grntamicin
- g4ntamicin
- g3ntamicin
- gebtamicin
- gemtamicin
- gejtamicin
- gehtamicin
- genramicin
- genfamicin
- gengamicin
- Genticin
- gentricin
- gentericin
- gentamisyn
Etymology of GENTAMICIN
The word "gentamicin" derives from the parent compound "gentamicin", which is an antibiotic drug from the aminoglycoside class. The term "gentamicin" is a portmanteau, formed by combining the words "gentian" and "micin".
The first part, "gentian", refers to a flowering plant called Gentiana, which has blue or purplish flowers. The name Gentiana itself is derived from Gentius, an ancient King of Illyria, who is said to have discovered the medicinal properties of this plant.
The second part, "micin", indicates that gentamicin belongs to the aminoglycoside group of antibiotics. The suffix "-micin" relates to "microparticle" or "micelle", reflecting the small size of the molecules in this class of antibiotics.
Similar spelling words for GENTAMICIN
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