Nalidixic acid is an antibacterial medication that is commonly used to treat urinary tract infections. It is pronounced /nælɪˈdɪksɪk ˈæsɪd/, with each syllable clearly defined. The first syllable ‘nal’ is pronounced with a short ‘a’ sound followed by a voiced ‘l’ sound. The second syllable ‘idix’ is pronounced with a long ‘i’ sound, followed by a ‘d’ and ‘ks’ sound, and the final syllable ‘ic’ is pronounced with an ‘ihk’ sound. Overall, the spelling of ‘nalidixic acid’ corresponds to its phonetic transcription.
Nalidixic acid is a synthetic antibiotic in the class of medications known as quinolone antibiotics. It was the first member of this antibiotic class to be developed and has been used for the treatment of various bacterial infections since the 1960s.
Nalidixic acid works by inhibiting the activity of certain enzymes in bacteria called DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV. These enzymes are important for DNA replication and repair in bacteria. By blocking their activity, nalidixic acid disrupts the replication and synthesis of bacterial DNA, leading to the inhibition of bacterial growth and eventually causing bacterial death.
This antibiotic is primarily indicated for the treatment of urinary tract infections caused by susceptible Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli and some strains of Proteus, Klebsiella, and Enterobacter. It may also be used for the treatment of other infections caused by susceptible bacteria, although its use in this context is limited due to the emergence of bacterial resistance.
Nalidixic acid is generally administered orally, although it can also be given via intravenous infusion in certain cases. It is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and widely distributed throughout the body. The antibiotic is primarily eliminated through the kidneys, which makes it particularly suitable for the treatment of urinary tract infections.
Like other antibiotics, nalidixic acid may be associated with side effects. Common adverse reactions include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rash, dizziness, and headache. In some cases, it may cause more serious side effects, such as tendon rupture or inflammation of the liver. Therefore, it is important to use this medication under medical supervision and follow the prescribed dosage and duration.
The word "Nalidixic" is derived from the chemical name of the compound, Nalidixic acid. The term "Nalidixic" does not have a specific etymology outside of its association with the compound.
However, the term "Nalidixic acid" itself does have an etymology. It was derived by combining the prefix "Nali-" and the suffix "-dixic acid". The prefix "Nali-" does not have a specific meaning but was likely chosen as a part of the compound's name to give it a distinctive sound. The suffix "-dixic" comes from the Latin word "dixi", meaning "I said" or "I have said".
The compound was first synthesized and introduced by George Lesher and coworkers in the 1960s, who named it Nalidixic acid.