amikacin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “amikacin” mean?
A broad-spectrum antibiotic derived from kanamycin, used to treat serious bacterial infections.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A broad-spectrum antibiotic derived from kanamycin, used to treat serious bacterial infections.
A semi-synthetic aminoglycoside antibiotic primarily used in hospital settings for severe Gram-negative bacterial infections, including those resistant to other aminoglycosides.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or spelling. Pronunciations may vary slightly.
Connotations
None beyond its technical medical meaning.
Frequency
Used with equal rarity and specificity in medical professions in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “amikacin” in a Sentence
amikacin is used to treat [infection]administer amikacin [via route]monitor [patient] for amikacin toxicityVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used exclusively in medical, pharmacological, and microbiology research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used. A patient might encounter it on a medication chart or discharge summary.
Technical
The primary domain. Used in clinical notes, pharmacy, microbiology lab reports, and treatment guidelines.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “amikacin”
Strong
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “amikacin”
- Misspelling as 'amikacine', 'amikacyn', or 'amikacim'.
- Using it as a general term for any antibiotic.
- Incorrect stress on the first syllable (AM-ikacin) instead of the third (am-i-KAY-cin).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used to treat serious infections caused by susceptible bacteria, particularly Gram-negative bacteria resistant to other antibiotics.
No, it is not a penicillin. It belongs to a different class called aminoglycosides.
It is almost always given by injection into a muscle or vein (intramuscularly or intravenously).
The two major risks are damage to the kidneys (nephrotoxicity) and damage to the hearing and balance organs in the ear (ototoxicity).
A broad-spectrum antibiotic derived from kanamycin, used to treat serious bacterial infections.
Amikacin is usually technical/medical in register.
Amikacin: in British English it is pronounced /ˌamɪˈkeɪsɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæmɪˈkeɪsɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A MIKA (like the singer) sin(g)s to kill bacteria.' Amikacin kills bacterial infections.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable; a concrete pharmaceutical agent.
Practice
Quiz
What type of drug is amikacin?