CEPHAMYCINS Meaning and
Definition
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Cephamycins are a class of antibiotics that are structurally and functionally related to cephalosporins. They belong to the beta-lactam group of antibiotics, which are characterized by a beta-lactam ring in their molecular structure. Cephamycins exhibit potent antibacterial activity against a broad spectrum of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including many strains that are resistant to other beta-lactam antibiotics.
Cephamycins were initially derived from the fungus Streptomyces clavuligerus and were first identified in the 1970s. They are commonly used in healthcare settings to treat moderate to severe infections caused by susceptible bacteria. Cephamycins inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to and inhibiting the activity of penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), which are essential for cell wall formation. This leads to impaired bacterial cell growth and eventual cell death.
Cephamycins differ from other cephalosporins in that they possess a methoxy group at position 7 of the cephem nucleus, which imparts them with enhanced antimicrobial activity against anaerobic bacteria. Therefore, they are particularly effective in the treatment of infections caused by anaerobes, such as intra-abdominal infections, pelvic infections, and lung abscesses.
Common examples of cephamycins include cefoxitin, cefotetan, and cefmetazole. These drugs are available in various formulations, including oral, intravenous, and intramuscular preparations. As with any antibiotics, the use of cephamycins should be guided by susceptibility testing and clinical judgment to ensure appropriate treatment and reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance.
Common Misspellings for CEPHAMYCINS
- xephamycins
- vephamycins
- fephamycins
- dephamycins
- cwphamycins
- csphamycins
- cdphamycins
- crphamycins
- c4phamycins
- c3phamycins
- ceohamycins
- celhamycins
- ce-hamycins
- ce0hamycins
- cepgamycins
- cepbamycins
- cepnamycins
- cepjamycins
- cepuamycins
- cepyamycins
Etymology of CEPHAMYCINS
The word "Cephamycins" is derived from two parts: "Cepha-" and "-mycins".
1. "Cepha-" refers to "cephalosporin", which is a class of antibiotics. The term "cephalosporin" dates back to the 1940s and was coined by the Italian pharmacologist and Nobel laureate Giuseppe Brotzu. He named it after the fungus Cephalosporium acremonium, from which the antibiotic was first isolated.
2. "-mycins" is a suffix commonly used to indicate a class of antibiotics. It comes from the Greek word "mykes", meaning "fungus" or "mold". This suffix indicates the origin of many antibiotics, derived from various fungal or bacterial sources.
Idioms with the word CEPHAMYCINS
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cephamycins
There doesn't seem to be a commonly used idiom or expression associated with the term "cephamycins." However, "cephamycins" itself refers to a group of antibiotics belonging to the cephalosporin class. Cephamycins are used in medical treatment to combat bacterial infections.
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