Oxytetracycline

Oxytetracycline is a broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotic originally derived from the metabolism of Streptomyces rimosus. It is used to treat a wide range of infections caused by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as atypical organisms such as Mycoplasma, Rickettsia, and Chlamydia. Its mechanism of action involves reversible binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit (and to some extent the 50S subunit), thereby inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis by preventing amino-acyl tRNA from binding to the A site of the ribosome. This results in a bacteriostatic effect, halting bacterial growth and multiplication[2][5][6]. Oxytetracycline has been used for respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections (including acne), eye and ear infections, gonorrhea, nonspecific urethritis, Lyme disease, brucellosis, cholera, typhus, tularaemia and anthrax—especially when penicillins or macrolides are contraindicated[1][2]. Due to increasing resistance among bacteria and improved alternatives like doxycycline with better pharmacologic profiles for many indications, its use has declined in recent years[1].

Brand names

Terramycin

Other names

oxytetracycline HCloxytetracycline monohydrochloride