co-trimoxazole: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/TechnicalTechnical/Medical
Quick answer
What does “co-trimoxazole” mean?
A synthetic antibiotic drug combining trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, used to treat various bacterial infections.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A synthetic antibiotic drug combining trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, used to treat various bacterial infections.
An antimicrobial agent effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria, particularly used for urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, and certain types of diarrhea. It works by inhibiting folic acid synthesis in bacteria.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; the term is identical in both varieties. Spelling 'co-trimoxazole' (with hyphen) is standard in both, though 'cotrimoxazole' (without hyphen) is also seen in technical literature.
Connotations
Identical clinical/connotative meaning. The brand name 'Bactrim' or 'Septra' may be more commonly used in American patient-facing contexts, whereas 'co-trimoxazole' is the standard generic name in both UK and US medical professions.
Frequency
Equal frequency in medical/technical registers. Laypersons in both regions are more likely to encounter brand names.
Grammar
How to Use “co-trimoxazole” in a Sentence
[Patient] was prescribed co-trimoxazole for [infection].The clinician initiated co-trimoxazole.Co-trimoxazole is effective against [bacteria].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “co-trimoxazole” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The GP decided to co-trimoxazole the patient for the persistent cystitis.
- We may need to co-trimoxazole this case, given the sensitivity report.
American English
- The doctor chose to treat with co-trimoxazole for the sinus infection.
- Given the susceptibility, we'll co-trimoxazole the cellulitis.
adverb
British English
- The infection was treated co-trimoxazole, following protocol.
- N/A
American English
- The physician managed the case co-trimoxazole, per guidelines.
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The co-trimoxazole regimen was well tolerated.
- We observed a co-trimoxazole-induced rash.
American English
- The co-trimoxazole therapy lasted ten days.
- A co-trimoxazole-resistant strain emerged.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in pharmaceutical manufacturing, distribution, and sales contexts.
Academic
Common in medical, pharmacological, and microbiological research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Rare; if used, typically in a patient-healthcare provider conversation about medication.
Technical
The primary register. Used in clinical guidelines, prescriptions, drug formularies, and medical discussions.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “co-trimoxazole”
- Misspelling as 'cotrimoxazole' (acceptable variant) or 'co-trimaxazole'.
- Incorrect pronunciation stressing 'co' as in 'company' instead of the secondary stress on 'co' and primary on 'mox'.
- Using it as a general term for any antibiotic.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a penicillin. It is a combination of two different antibiotics: trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, which belong to the sulfonamide class.
It is commonly used to treat urinary tract infections, bronchitis, traveler's diarrhea, and certain types of pneumonia, including Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia.
Yes, common side effects can include nausea, vomiting, skin rash, and loss of appetite. More serious but rare side effects include severe skin reactions and blood disorders.
It is generally advised to avoid alcohol as it may increase the risk of certain side effects like nausea and could potentially cause a reaction similar to that caused by disulfiram (Antabuse).
A synthetic antibiotic drug combining trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, used to treat various bacterial infections.
Co-trimoxazole is usually technical/medical in register.
Co-trimoxazole: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkəʊ traɪˈmɒksəzəʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊ traɪˈmɑːksəzoʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COmbined TRIMethoprim and sulfamethOXAZOLE' makes co-trimoxazole.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A for this highly technical term.
Practice
Quiz
Co-trimoxazole is primarily classified as what?