Chlortetracycline (trade name Aureomycin,
Lederle Laboratories) is a
tetracycline antibiotic
An antibiotic is a type of antimicrobial substance active against bacteria. It is the most important type of antibacterial agent for fighting bacterial infections, and antibiotic medications are widely used in the treatment and prevention of ...
, the first
tetracycline to be identified. It was discovered in 1945 at Lederle Laboratories under the supervision of scientist
Yellapragada Subbarow and
Benjamin Minge Duggar. Duggar identified the antibiotic as the product of an
actinomycete he cultured from a soil sample collected from
Sanborn Field at the
University of Missouri.
The organism was named ''
Streptomyces aureofaciens
''Kitasatospora aureofaciens'' is a species of ''Kitasatospora'', and the source of many tetracycline antibiotics. The organism was first isolated at Sanborn Field on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia, Missouri, US; the site became a ...
'' and the isolated drug, Aureomycin, because of their golden color.
It is on the
World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.
Medical uses
A combination cream with
triamcinolone acetonide is available for the treatment of infected
allergic dermatitis
Dermatitis is inflammation of the Human skin, skin, typically characterized by itchiness, erythema, redness and a rash. In cases of short duration, there may be small blisters, while in long-term cases the skin may become lichenification, thick ...
in humans.
In
veterinary medicine, chlortetracycline is commonly used to treat
conjunctivitis in
cats
The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of t ...
,
dogs and horses. It is also used to treat infected wounds in cattle, sheep and pigs, and
respiratory tract
The respiratory tract is the subdivision of the respiratory system involved with the process of respiration in mammals. The respiratory tract is lined with respiratory epithelium as respiratory mucosa.
Air is breathed in through the nose to th ...
infections in calves, pigs and chickens.
Contraindications
Chlortetracycline for systemic use is contraindicated in animals with severe
hepatic or
renal impairment. Topical chlortetracycline must not be used on the udder of animals whose milk is intended for human consumption.
Adverse effects
Like other tetracyclines, chlortetracyclin can inhibit bone and tooth mineralization in growing and unborn animals, and color their teeth yellow or brown. It can also impair liver and kidney function. Allergic reactions are rare.
Interactions
Chlortetracycline may increase the anticoagulant activities of
acenocoumarol. The risk or severity of adverse effects can be increased when chlortetracycline is combined with
acitretin,
adapalene, or
alitretinoin. Aluminum phosphate and aluminum hydroxide can cause decreases in the absorption of chlortetracycline resulting in a reduced serum concentration and potentially a decrease in efficacy. The therapeutic efficacy of
mecillinam (amdinocillin),
amoxicillin, and
ampicillin can be decreased when used in combination with chlortetracycline. Chlortetracycline may increase the neuromuscular blocking activities of
atracurium besilate
Atracurium besilate, also known as atracurium besylate, is a medication used in addition to other medications to provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation. It can also be used to help with endotracheal intubati ...
.
Pharmacology
Mechanism of action
References
{{TetracyclineAntiBiotics
Chloroarenes
Tetracycline antibiotics