Cefapirin
Cefapirin
Cefapirin (pronounced: sef-uh-peer-in) is a first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic. It is primarily used in veterinary medicine to treat bacterial infections in animals.
Etymology
The term "Cefapirin" is derived from the parent class of antibiotics it belongs to, known as cephalosporins. The "-pirin" suffix is a common naming convention in the pharmaceutical industry for drugs in this class.
Usage
Cefapirin is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections in animals, particularly in cattle and pigs. It is effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including strains of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Escherichia coli.
Mechanism of Action
Cefapirin works by inhibiting the synthesis of the bacterial cell wall, leading to cell death. It binds to specific proteins (penicillin-binding proteins) located inside the bacterial cell wall, which prevents the cross-linking of peptidoglycan chains necessary for bacterial cell wall strength and rigidity.
Related Terms
- Cephalosporin: The class of antibiotics that Cefapirin belongs to.
- Antibiotic: A type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria.
- Bacteria: Microscopic single-celled organisms that can be harmful or beneficial.
- Gram-positive: A classification of bacteria that have a thick peptidoglycan cell wall and stain violet in the Gram stain test.
- Gram-negative: A classification of bacteria that have a thinner peptidoglycan cell wall, which is sandwiched between an inner cell membrane and a bacterial outer membrane, causing them to stain red in the Gram stain test.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Cefapirin
- Wikipedia's article - Cefapirin
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