Who discovered penicillin? In 1928, Alexander Fleming noted that mold belonging to the genus Penicillium inhibited the growth of bacteria. Fleming called this unknown antibacterial substance penicillin. Ten years later, a group at Oxford University began to investigate penicillin in laboratory mice. Penicillin was hailed as a miracle drug and saved countless lives in World...
Ofloxacin vs. erythromycin: What’s the difference? Ofloxacin and erythromycin are antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis, staph infections, and STDs (gonorrhea, chlamydia). Erythromycin is also used in patients who are allergic to penicillin for the prevention of recurrent rheumatic fever and infections of the hearts' valves (endocarditis) in patients with valvular...
Ofloxacin vs. levofloxacin: What’s the difference? Ofloxacin and levofloxacin are fluoroquinolone antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis, staph infections, STDs (gonorrhea, chlamydia), urinary tract infections (UTIs), and prostate infections caused by E. coli. Levofloxacin is also used for treating bacterial infections of the sinuses, skin, ears, airways, bones, and joints; infectious...
What is intravenous immunoglobulin therapy? Because intravenous immunoglobulin therapy increases a patient's immune response, doctors prescribe it in many circumstances in the hope it can help the patient heal when other treatments fail. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy is a treatment for people whose immune system is compromised due to a genetic disorder or an acquired...
What is Mavyret, and what is it used for? Mavyret is a fixed-dose combination tablet containing glecaprevir and pibrentasvir for oral administration. Glecaprevir is a HCV NS3/4A PI, and pibrentasvir is a HCV NS5A inhibitor. Mavyret is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older or weighing at least 45...
What is raxibacumab, and how is it used? raxibacumab is a prescription medicine used along with antibiotic medicines to treat people with inhalational anthrax. Raxibacumab can also be used to prevent anthrax disease when there are no other treatment options. The effectiveness of raxibacumab has been studied only in animals with inhalational anthrax. There have...
Ofloxacin vs. ciprofloxacin: What’s the difference? Ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin are fluoroquinolone antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis, staph infections, STDs (gonorrhea, chlamydia), urinary tract infections (UTIs), and prostate infections caused by E. coli. A brand name for ofloxacin is Ocuflox. The Floxin brand of ofloxacin has been discontinued. A brand name...
What is Lampit (nifurtimox), and how does it work? Lampit is a prescription medicine used to treat Chagas disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi in children less than 18 years of age weighing at least 5.5 pounds (2.5 kg). It is not known if Lampit is safe and effective in children weighing less than...
What is Krintafel (tafenoquine), and how is it used? Krintafel is a prescription medicine used to treat malaria caused by a parasite called Plasmodium vivax in patients aged 16 years and older who are also receiving chloroquine to treat acute Plasmodium vivax malaria. Malaria is a serious disease of the blood that is spread by...
What is the hepatitis B/hepatitis A vaccine? What is it for? Hepatitis A/B vaccine is a man-made combination vaccine containing inactivated hepatitis A virus strain and non-infectious hepatitis B virus surface antigen. Inactive Hepatitis A virus combined with hepatitis B antigens stimulates the immune system to develop immunity against hepatitis A and B virus infections....