ciprofloxacin

noun cip·ro·flox·a·cin \ ˌsi-prə-ˈfläk-sə-sən , -prō- \

Updated on: 15 Apr 2018

Definition of ciprofloxacin

: a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic C₁₇H₁₈FN₃O₃ that is often administered in the form of its hydrochloride C₁₇H₁₈FN₃O₃·HCl and is effective especially against gram-negative bacteria

Recent Examples of ciprofloxacin from the Web

The outbreak strain of C. jejuni could withstand three antibiotics: tetracycline, nalidixic acid, and ciprofloxacin.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Raw milk is trending for some reason—so are nasty, drug-resistant infections," 11 Feb. 2018
At least one of them turned up with resistance to a class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones, which contains ciprofloxacin among other common antibiotics.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Mysterious explosion of a deadly plague may come down to a sugar in ice cream," 10 Jan. 2018
Jessica was started on ciprofloxacin and saw an ENT the next day.

— rick pescatore, Philly.com, "Medical mystery: A teen's ear piercing goes awry," 20 Oct. 2017
Generally, outpatient treatment with a fluoroquinolone antibiotic such as ciprofloxacin is appropriate, though as pseudomonas’ resistance grows stronger, some patients may require hospitalization for a course of intravenous antibiotics.

— rick pescatore, Philly.com, "Medical mystery: A teen's ear piercing goes awry," 20 Oct. 2017
Most people with Campylobacter get better on their own but severe cases may be treated with antibiotics such as azithromycin or ciprofloxacin.

— maggie fox, NBC News, "Infected Puppies Put 9 in Hospital, Sicken 30 More," 11 Sep. 2017
Gonorrhea has already proven too resistant to other antibiotics, including penicillin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Incurable gonorrhea is lurking—and we may not see it coming, WHO warns," 9 July 2017
Of the countries surveyed around the world, 97% reported cases that were resistant to ciprofloxacin, the cheapest and most widely available treatment; 81% reported gonorrhea cases resistant to azithromycin; and 66% to cephalosporins.

— amy maxmen, Scientific American, "Untreatable Gonorrhea on the Rise Worldwide," 7 July 2017
Of the Enterococci, at least 90 percent of those found in each species were resistant to tetracycline; from 50 percent to 70 percent were resistant to erythromycin; and from 10 percent to 40 percent were resistant to ciprofloxacin and streptomycin —

— maryn mckenna, WIRED, "Farm antibiotics, human illness and what connects them. (It has legs.)," 28 Jan. 2011

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ciprofloxacin.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ciprofloxacin

probably from International Scientific Vocabulary ci- (alteration of cycl-) + propyl + fluor- + ox- + az- + -mycin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1983

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

ciprofloxacin

noun cip·ro·flox·a·cin \ ˌsip-rə-ˈfläk-sə-sən, -rō- \

medical Definition of ciprofloxacin

: a fluoroquinolone C₁₇H₁₈FN₃O₃ that is often administered in the form of its hydrochloride C₁₇H₁₈FN₃O₃·HCl and is effective especially against gram-negative bacteria — see cipro

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ciprofloxacin

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ciprofloxacin

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