| |
tetracycline
(tet″rә-siŽklēn)
any of a group of related broad-spectrum antibiotics; some are isolated from certain species of Streptomyces and others are produced semisynthetically. The group includes chlortetracycline, demeclocycline, doxycycline, minocycline, oxytetracycline, and tetracycline (def. 2). Tetracyclines are effective against a wide range of aerobic and anaerobic gram-positive and gram-negative
bacteria, and are used particularly for rickettsiae, mycoplasmas, and chlamydiae; they are also effective against certain
protozoa.
a semisynthetic antibiotic having the same wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity as other members of the tetracycline group; administered orally.
The hydrochloride salt has similar actions and is administered orally, intramuscularly, intravenously, or topically to the
skin or conjunctiva.

Copyright 2007. An Elsevier publication. All rights reserved.
Click here for important legal information about Dorland's Medical Dictionary.
|