streptomycin

An antibiotic agent obtained from Streptomyces griseus that is active against the tubercle bacillus and a large number of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; also used in the form of dihydrostreptomycin (aldehyde of s. reduced to CH₂OH). It is a glucoside and contains streptidine and streptobiosamine linked by an oxygen bridge between C-4 of the inositol residue and C-1 of the streptose residue; s. B has a mannose residue attached to the glucosamine and is a natural product, with less activity than s. A. It is used virtually exclusively in the treatment of tuberculosis; toxicity includes eighth cranial nerve damage leading to deafness and/or vestibular dysfunction. SYN: s. A.

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strep·to·my·cin -'mīs-ən n an antibiotic organic base C₂₁H₃₉N₇O₁₂ that is produced by a soil actinomycete of the genus Streptomyces (S. griseus), is active against bacteria, and is used esp. in the treatment of infections (as tuberculosis) by gram-negative bacteria

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n.

an aminoglycosides antibiotic, derived from the bacterium Streptomyces griseus, that is used in combination with other drugs for treating tuberculosis and brucellosis. It is administered by intramuscular injection; side-effects causing ear and kidney damage may develop in some patients.

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strep·to·my·cin (strep″to-miґsin) the first of the aminoglycoside antibiotics to be isolated, derived from Streptomyces griseus; it is effective against a wide variety of aerobic gram-negative bacilli and some gram-positive bacteria, including mycobacteria. Its use is now limited because of the emergence of resistant strains.