Tetracycline

Tetracycline (INN) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic produced by the streptomyces bacterium, indicated for use against many bacterial infections. It is commonly used to treat acne. It is sold under the brand names Sumycin®;, Tetracyn®; and Panmycin®, among others. Actisite® is a thread-like fiber form, used in dental applications. It is also used to produce several semi-synthetic derivatives, which together are known as the Tetracycline antibiotic group. It works by inhibiting action of the prokaryotic 30S ribosome. Toxicity may be result of inactivation of mitochondrial 30S ribosomes in host cells.

History
Tetracycline was first discovered by Lloyd Conover in the research departments of Pfizer. The patent for Tetracycline was first issued in 1955 (patent number 2,699,054). Tetracycline sparked the development of many chemically altered antibiotics and in doing so has proved to be one of the most important discoveries made in the field of antibiotics.

Cautions, Contraindications, Side effect
Are as those of the Tetracycline antibiotics group:

Can stain developing teeth
Inactivated by Ca+2 ion, not advised to be taken with milk or yogurt
Skin photosensitivity, not advised to be exposed to the Sun or intense light
Drug induced lupus, and hepatitis
Tinnitus

Indication
Tetracycline's primary use is for the treatment of acne vulgaris and rosacea.

It is also used to treat a very wide range of infections; see Tetracycline antibiotics for details.

Other uses
Since tetracycline is absorbed into bone, it is used as a marker of bone growth for biopsies in humans, and as a biomarker in wildlife to detect consumption of medicine- or vaccine-containing baits. The presence of tetracyline in bone is detected by its fluorescence.