methicillin
A semi-synthetic penicillin antibiotic used to treat infections caused by bacteria that are resistant to penicillin.
Noun
This term refers to a specific pharmaceutical agent within the penicillin class. In clinical settings, it is primarily discussed in the context of antibiotic resistance, specifically regarding the emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Because it is a chemical compound and a specific drug, it is treated as an uncountable mass noun.
Usage is almost exclusively restricted to medical, pharmacological, and biological registers. It is rarely used in general conversation unless discussing a specific medical diagnosis or a laboratory result.
Meanings
Examples
The patient was treated with methicillin to combat the penicillin resistant strain.
We need to check if the bacteria are sensitive to methicillin before starting the course.
I wonder if methicillin will be effective against this specific infection.
The lab results confirm that the isolate is susceptible to methicillin.
Administer the methicillin via intravenous injection every six hours.
Administer the methicillin via intravenous injection every six hours.
Methicillin was once the gold standard for treating staphylococcal infections.
Is the patient allergic to methicillin or other beta lactam antibiotics?
The emergence of MRSA means that methicillin is no longer effective for some patients.
Related Words
antibioticpenicillinstaphylococcusMRSAbacteriainfectionmedicinedrugpharmacologychemotherapyantimicrobialresistancesusceptibilityefficacydosageinjectiontherapytreatmentpathogencoccigram-positivecell-wallpeptidoglycanlysisbactericidalbacteriostaticpharmaceuticalprescriptionclinichospitalmicrobiologycultureagarspectrumside-effectallergyanaphylaxistoxicityrenalclearancehalf-lifepharmacokineticspharmacodynamicssynergysepsisabscesspneumoniaendocarditisosteomyelitisstrainmutationplasmidenzymeinhibitortazobactamcephalosporincarbapenemvancomycinsuperbugnosocomialsteriledisinfectantantisepticvaccineimmunologywhite-blood-cellleukocyteinflammationfeverdiagnosisprognosis