Chloramphenicol is a broad-spectrum antibiotic isolated from cultures of
Streptomyces Venezuela in 1947 which is useful for the treatment of various bacterial infections. It is bacteriostatic, as it reversibly binds to the bacterial 50S ribosomal subunit. The binding interferes with peptidyl transferase activity, thereby preventing the transfer of amino acids to the growing peptide chains and blocking peptide bond formation. Chloramphenicol remains an important inpatient antibiotic used in treating certain life-threatening infections. Being highly toxic, it is still prescribed at a noticeable rate. It is recommended to be prescribed to be only when there is no other alternative present with monitoring of its concentration inpatients body. Even being a potent antibiotic, its use is limited due to its association with aplastic anemia and bone marrow suppression. The literature analysis illustrates the consequent hematological abnormalities may be due to the pharmacological dose-dependent effects of the drug or the idiosyncratic reactions which are irreversible. The pathophysiology is the nitrated benzyl radical of chloramphenicol is responsible for hematopoietic depression. Here we report a case of chloramphenicol-induced pancytopenia.
Comments