Chloramphenicol
Synonyms
Acetamide, 2,2-dichloro-N-(2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl)-, (R-(R*,R*))-
Chlornitromycin
Chlorocid
Chloromycetin
Cloranfenicol
Detreomycin
Kloramfenikol
Levomycetin
Ophthochlor
Syntomycin
An antibiotic first isolated from cultures of Streptomyces venequelae in 1947 but now produced synthetically. It has a relatively simple structure and was the first broad-spectrum antibiotic to be discovered. It acts by interfering with bacterial protein synthesis and is mainly bacteriostatic. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 29th ed, p106)