Streptomysiiniä

Streptomysiiniä is a Finnish word that translates to "streptomycin" in English. Streptomycin is an antibiotic that belongs to the aminoglycoside class. It was discovered in 1943 by Albert Schatz, Elizabeth Bugie, and Selman Waksman from the bacterium Streptomyces griseus. This discovery was a major breakthrough in the treatment of bacterial infections.

Streptomycin is primarily used to treat serious infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, such as tuberculosis, plague, tularemia, and brucellosis. It works by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis, which is essential for bacterial growth and survival. Streptomycin binds to the bacterial ribosome, specifically the 30S ribosomal subunit, causing misreading of messenger RNA and premature termination of protein synthesis.

Despite its effectiveness, streptomycin can have significant side effects, including ototoxicity (damage to the ear, potentially causing hearing loss or balance problems) and nephrotoxicity (damage to the kidneys). Due to these side effects and the development of bacterial resistance, streptomycin is often used in combination with other antibiotics, particularly for tuberculosis treatment, and its use has become more restricted over time. It is typically administered via injection.