Sketchy Pharm: Chloramphenicol

Question 1

How does chloramphenicol work?

Answer 1

It inhibits the 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome, preventing peptide bond formation.

(Think of the woman with the jammed typewriter.)

Question 2

What is a common use of chloramphenicol?

Answer 2

Meningitis outbreaks in developing countries

Think of the kid with the meningitis swim cap tossing the globe beach ball.

Question 3

In addition to meningitis bugs –N. meningitis, S. pneumoniae, and H. influenzae –chloramphenicol is also used to treat ________________.

Answer 3

Rickettsia (aka Rocky Mountain spotted fever)

Think of the girl climbing the Rocky-Mountain-shaped rocks on the edge of the pool.

Question 4

What two hematologic adverse effects can chloramphenicol cause?

Answer 4

Reversible RBC production and irreversible aplastic anemia

(Think of the deflated RBC inner tubes –representing reversible anemia –and the plastic bone in the pool –representing aplastic anemia.)

Question 5

Chloramphenicol classically causes a syndrome in infants: ________________.

Answer 5

gray baby syndrome, characterized by flaccidity, hypothermia, and shock; this results from immature glucuronidation