chloramphenicol

Chloramphenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic originally derived from the bacterium *Streptomyces venezuelae* and now produced synthetically. It is primarily used to treat serious bacterial infections, including typhoid fever, bacterial conjunctivitis, cholera and other life-threatening infections when other antibiotics are ineffective or contraindicated. Its use is limited due to the risk of severe side effects such as bone marrow suppression and aplastic anemia. Chloramphenicol acts by binding to the 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome, inhibiting peptidyl transferase activity and thus blocking protein synthesis in susceptible bacteria.

Brand names

ChloromycetinChloromycetin Sodium Succinate

Other names

chloramphenicol