Chloramphenicol: what we have learned in the last decade

Abstract

Chloramphenicol is a unique antibiotic. The kinetics and efficacy of the oral and intravenous preparations are comparable. Chloramphenicol is usually bacteriostatic but is bactericidal against Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Neisseria meningitidis, and chloramphenicol's clinical efficacy against these meningeal pathogens is well established. Chloramphenicol can be used to treat serious pediatric infections when Haemophilus influenzae is a likely pathogen, as well as typhoid fever, anaerobic infections, bacterial meningitis in patients allergic to penicillin, brain abscesses, and rickettsial infections. The use of chloramphenicol is limited because of its toxicity. Aplastic anemia is very rare but can occur after either oral or intravenous administration. The gray syndrome can be eliminated and marrow suppression minimized by using chloramphenicol at the recommended doses and monitoring levels. During the last decade the increased use of chloramphenicol has not resulted in increased resistance or in frequent reports of toxicity. Thus, chloramphenicol remains an important inpatient antibiotic that can be invaluable for treating certain life-threatening infections.