Leprostatic agent
Leprostatic Agent
A Leprostatic agent (pronunciation: lep-ro-stat-ic a-gent) is a type of pharmaceutical drug specifically designed to treat leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae.
Etymology
The term "leprostatic" is derived from the Greek words "lepros" meaning "scaly", and "statikos" meaning "causing to stand" or "stopping". The term "agent" in this context refers to a substance or compound that produces an effect or is used for a specific action.
Function
Leprostatic agents work by inhibiting the growth of Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium responsible for causing leprosy. These drugs are typically administered as part of a multi-drug therapy to prevent the development of drug resistance.
Examples
Some examples of leprostatic agents include:
- Dapsone: This is a sulfone antibiotic that is commonly used in combination with other drugs to treat leprosy.
- Rifampicin: This is a bactericidal antibiotic that is effective against Mycobacterium leprae.
- Clofazimine: This is a fat-soluble riminophenazine dye used in combination with other drugs to treat leprosy.
Related Terms
- Antibiotic: A type of drug used to treat bacterial infections.
- Bactericidal: A substance that kills bacteria.
- Bacteriostatic: A substance that inhibits the growth or multiplication of bacteria.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Leprostatic agent
- Wikipedia's article - Leprostatic agent
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