Tag: Grey baby syndrome

Despite being a potent and broad-spectrum antibiotic discovered in 1947, chloramphenicol is rarely used in developed countries due to severe, potentially fatal adverse effects. So, what is the problem with chloramphenicol and why is it reserved for life-threatening infections? The answer lies in its significant toxicity profile.

Once hailed as a broad-spectrum antibiotic powerhouse in the late 1940s, chloramphenicol's widespread use was dramatically curtailed following the discovery of its severe, and often fatal, side effects. This led to stringent regulations and outright bans in many countries, shifting its status from a frontline treatment to a last-resort medication for life-threatening infections.

First isolated in 1948, chloramphenicol, the active ingredient in ED Phenicol, is a powerful broad-spectrum antibiotic with significant risks. What is ED Phenicol used for? It is now primarily reserved for treating serious bacterial infections where other, safer antibiotics are ineffective.

Chloramphenicol is rarely used in the United States because of known severe adverse effects, such as bone marrow toxicity and the risk of gray baby syndrome. For this reason, it is crucial to understand who cannot use chloramphenicol and the specific risks involved with its use.