Polymyxin
Polymyxin
Polymyxin (pronounced: /ˌpɒlɪˈmaɪksɪn/) is a type of antibiotic that is used to treat infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria.
Etymology
The term "Polymyxin" is derived from the Greek words "poly" meaning "many" and "mykes" meaning "fungus". This is because the antibiotic was originally derived from the bacterium Bacillus polymyxa, which was so named because it produces many spores.
Usage
Polymyxins are used to treat a variety of infections, including those caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. They work by disrupting the bacterial cell membrane, leading to cell death.
Related Terms
- Bacillus polymyxa: The bacterium from which polymyxin is derived.
- Antibiotic: A type of drug used to treat bacterial infections.
- Gram-negative bacteria: A type of bacteria that does not retain the crystal violet stain used in the Gram staining method of bacterial identification.
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A common type of bacteria that can cause disease in animals, including humans.
- Escherichia coli: Often abbreviated as E. coli, these bacteria are found in the environment, foods, and intestines of people and animals.
- Klebsiella pneumoniae: A type of bacteria that can cause different types of healthcare-associated infections, including pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound or surgical site infections, and meningitis.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Polymyxin
- Wikipedia's article - Polymyxin
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski