Question

Chloramphenicol is a/an:
A. Antihistamine
B. Antiseptic and disinfectant
C. Broad spectrum antibiotic
D. Antifertility drug

Answer 1

. Chloramphenicol is used for the treatment of a number of bacterial infections. Chloramphenicol is also used as an eye ointment to treat conjunctivitis. It is used to treat meningitis, plague, cholera, and typhoid fever and can be inserted in the body via mouth or by injection into a vein.

Complete step by step answer:
Chloramphenicol is bacteriostatic antibiotic and antibiotic are the chemical substances produced wholly or partly by chemical synthesis which when present even in low concentrations try to reduce the growth or destroy microorganisms by intervening in their metabolic processes. Antibiotic are of two types:
i) Bacterial antibiotics are those biotics which have a killing effect on microbes. Examples of these are penicillin, aminoglycosides, ofloxacin etc.
ii) Bacteriostatic antibiotics are those biotics which have a static effect on microbes. Examples of these are erythromycin, chloramphenicol etc.
Antihistamines: Antihistamines are the drugs which interfere with the natural action of histamine for binding sites of receptors where histamine exerts in effects. Brompheniramine, terfenadine, cetirizine are included in the category of antihistamines.

Antiseptic are those chemical substances which try to stop the growth of microorganisms or kill them and also not harmful for the living human tissues. Antiseptics are applied to wounds, cuts, ulcers and diseased skin surfaces. Disinfectants are the chemical substances which kill microorganisms or stop their growth but are harmful to living tissue.
Antifertility drugs are the chemical substances which are used to prevent unwanted pregnancies in women. Norethindrone, mifepristone etc. are examples of antifertility drugs.
So, the correct answer is “Option C”.

Note: Antibiotic drugs are placed in the category of antimicrobial drugs which tries to destroy or to decrease the pathogenic action of microbes such as bacteria, fungi or other parasites. Common side effects of chloramphenicol include bone marrow suppression, nausea, and diarrhea. The bone marrow suppression may result in death. To reduce the risk of antibiotic drugs side effects we should take care that the treatment duration is as short as possible and people suffering from liver or kidney problems need lower doses of these drugs.