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This article is still under construction. |
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Chloramphenicol orginates from cultures of Streptomyces and was one of the first antibiotics to be synthetically mass-produced. It is a dichloracetic acid derivative. It's analogues florfenicol and thiamphenicol are discussed at the bottom of the page.
Mechanism of Action
Spectrum of Activity
Pharmacokinetic Considerations
Chloramphenicol and analogues: Highly lipophilic neutral small molecules. • Orally active. • Very wide volume of distribution – penetrates across cell membranes readily – the data shown on the slide are for penetration into bronchial secretions.
Bronchial fluid is a transcellular fluid – what are the barriers for a drug to diffuse into this fluid?
• Hepatic metabolism (varies between species and with age) for chloramphenicol. • A higher proportion of the administered dose of thiamphenicol and florphenicol are excreted unchanged in the urine.