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Glite Dictionary
sulfacetamide

sulfacetamide

7.6
A medicine that treats infections caused by bacteria in the eyes or on the skin
  • noun
  • /ˌsʌlfəˈtæmaɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sulfacetamida
  • The doctor prescribed sulfacetamide to treat the patient's eye infection.

Examples

  • For her bacterial conjunctivitis, the ophthalmologist recommended a solution containing sulfacetamide.

  • Ointments containing sulfacetamide are effective for treating skin infections.

  • Dr. Manning: We still use chloramphenicol, amphotericin B, and sulfacetamide in boric acid.

    Academic text (2003)

  • Therefore, sulfacetamide is initially very cost-effective as a treatment for PTTO, but it might not be the drug of choice later on in patients who have intermittent or refractory otorrhea.

    Academic text (2001)

Synonyms

sulfonamide
vssulfacetamide
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A medicine that kills or stops the growth of some bacteria

is a specific member of that chemical group used for eye and skin infections
sulfa drug
vssulfacetamide
  • Specialized
1 6.2

A medicine that stops bacteria from growing to treat infections

is a single specific antibacterial used mainly for eye and skin infections
Sulamyd
vssulfacetamide
  • Specialized
9.9

A medicine you put into the eye to treat infections

is a generic antibiotic used for both eye and skin infections

Surface Forms

sulfacetamide singular
sulfacetamides plural

Morphology

sulfacetamide = acetamide (opaque) = sulf + acetamide

Formed from technical chemical combining forms ('sulf-' + 'acetamide') whose meaning is specialized and not transparently derivable by an average B1 learner.

Etymology

The word sulfacetamide breaks into three parts: sulfa from sulfur ('a yellow element'), acet from a root for 'vinegar' or 'sour', and amide ('a common chemical ending'). So sulfacetamide is a sulfa-type antibiotic with an amide part, which is why it is used to treat eye and skin infections.