Which antibiotic is associated with mitochondrial toxicity and potential bone marrow suppression?

Which antibiotic is associated with mitochondrial toxicity and potential bone marrow suppression?

• A. Chloramphenicol
• B. Erythromycin
• C. Ciprofloxacin
• D. Amoxicillin

Answer: (A)

Understanding how antibiotics can affect cellular machinery explains why this drug carries a risk of mitochondrial toxicity and bone marrow suppression. Chloramphenicol binds to the 50S subunit of bacterial ribosomes and blocks peptidyl transferase, stopping protein synthesis. Mitochondria in human cells have ribosomes that are evolutionarily similar to bacterial ones (70S), so chloramphenicol can also inhibit mitochondrial protein synthesis. When mitochondrial function is impaired in hematopoietic (bone marrow) cells, it can lead to reduced blood cell production, manifesting as bone marrow suppression and, in some cases, aplastic anemia. This is a known risk associated with chloramphenicol and is not a typical concern with the other listed antibiotics.

Understanding how antibiotics can affect cellular machinery explains why this drug carries a risk of mitochondrial toxicity and bone marrow suppression. Chloramphenicol binds to the 50S subunit of bacterial ribosomes and blocks peptidyl transferase, stopping protein synthesis. Mitochondria in human cells have ribosomes that are evolutionarily similar to bacterial ones (70S), so chloramphenicol can also inhibit mitochondrial protein synthesis. When mitochondrial function is impaired in hematopoietic (bone marrow) cells, it can lead to reduced blood cell production, manifesting as bone marrow suppression and, in some cases, aplastic anemia. This is a known risk associated with chloramphenicol and is not a typical concern with the other listed antibiotics.