METHICILLIN Meaning and
Definition
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Methicillin is a noun that refers to a semisynthetic antibiotic drug belonging to the beta-lactam class. It is specifically classified as a penicillinase-resistant penicillin. Methicillin was primarily developed to combat bacterial infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria that is often resistant to standard penicillin treatments due to the production of an enzyme called beta-lactamase.
This antibiotic works by inhibiting the growth of susceptible bacteria, primarily by preventing the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall. By targeting a specific area of the bacteria's growth process, methicillin disrupts the formation of a protective barrier, leading to the weakening and eventual death of the bacteria.
Methicillin has been widely replaced by other antibiotics due to the emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, which can effectively evade the drug's effects. MRSA is resistant to methicillin and other similar antibiotics because of a different mechanism, known as the mecA gene, which alters the target site of the drug.
It is worth noting that methicillin is no longer commonly used in medical practice due to its limited efficacy against resistant strains of bacteria. However, understanding the development and use of methicillin is crucial in the broader context of antibiotic resistance and the ongoing search for effective treatments against bacterial infections.
Common Misspellings for METHICILLIN
Etymology of METHICILLIN
The word "methicillin" derives from "methoxy" (a chemical compound) and "ticarcillin" (a penicillin-type antibiotic). It was derived by substituting the "thi" in "methoxy" with "ci" from "ticarcillin" to form "methici". Finally, the "i" in "methici" was changed to "-in" to conform to the naming conventions of antibiotics.
Similar spelling words for METHICILLIN
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