kanamycin
noun
kana·my·cin
ˌka-nə-ˈmī-sᵊn 
: a broad-spectrum antibiotic from a Japanese soil streptomyces (Streptomyces kanamyceticus)
Examples of kanamycin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Her treatment now involved 13 different medications, including injections of kanamycin, which can cause permanent hearing loss and kidney impairment.
—
Sofia Moutinho, Scientific American, 14 May 2022
Adding the antibiotic kanamycin led to a dramatic decline in growth rate, providing an opportunity to quantify the kinetics of drug effectiveness.
—Jeffrey Marlow, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2016
High frequency of resistance to tetracycline, erythromycin, streptomycin, kanamycin, and
ciprofloxacin in our study likely reflects use of tetracyclines, macrolides, aminoglycosides and
fluoroquinolones as feed additives for swine in the USA…
—Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 28 Jan. 2011
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Sofia Moutinho, Scientific American, 14 May 2022
Adding the antibiotic kanamycin led to a dramatic decline in growth rate, providing an opportunity to quantify the kinetics of drug effectiveness.
—Jeffrey Marlow, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2016
High frequency of resistance to tetracycline, erythromycin, streptomycin, kanamycin, and
ciprofloxacin in our study likely reflects use of tetracyclines, macrolides, aminoglycosides and
fluoroquinolones as feed additives for swine in the USA…
—Maryn McKenna, WIRED, 28 Jan. 2011
Cite this Entry
“Kanamycin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kanamycin. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
kanamycin
noun
kana·my·cin
ˌkan-ə-ˈmīs-ᵊn
: a broad-spectrum antibiotic from a Japanese soil bacterium of the genus Streptomyces (S. kanamyceticus)
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