STREPTOMYCIN (strep toe MYE sin) is an aminoglycoside antibiotic. It is used to treat certain kinds of bacterial infections. It will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections.

How does streptomycin work?

Streptomycin is a member of a family of antibiotics that work by interrupting the function of bacteria cells' ribosomes, the complex molecular machines that create proteins by linking amino acids together.

What does streptomycin do to bacteria?

Streptomycin kills bacteria by compromising the ribosome. Streptomycin is an effective antibiotic because its structure is similar to that of the anticodons that would usually bind to the ribosome. Streptomycin is significant because it was the first antibiotic that could treat tuberculosis.