| vancomycin | <drug> Complex glycopeptide antibiotic produced by actinomycetes. Inhibits peptidoglycan synthesis. Active against many gram-positive bacteria. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| vancomycin resistant enterococcus | A form of intestinal bacteria (formerly classed under streptococcus faecalis) which is not sensitive to the big gun antibiotic, vancomycin. This organism is usually only fatal in those who are, for reasons of age or infirmity, immunosuppressed. The pathology of the illness is exacerbated when haemosepsis (blood-stream infection) develops. (09 Oct 1997) |
| sterile | 1. Producing little or no crop; barren; unfruitful; unproductive; not fertile; as, sterile land; a sterile desert; a sterile year. 2. <biology> Incapable of reproduction; unfitted for reproduction of offspring; not able to germinate or bear fruit; unfruitful; as, a sterile flower, which bears only stamens. Free from reproductive spores or germs; as, a sterile fluid. 3. Barren of ideas; destitute of sentiment; as, a sterile production or author. Origin: F. Sterile, L. Sterilis, akin to Gr. Stereos stiff, solid, stei^ros barren, stei^ra a cow that has not calved, Goth. Stairo, fem, barren. See Stare to gaze. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| sterile abscess | An abscess whose contents are not caused by pyogenic bacteria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sterile cyst | A hydatid cyst without brood capsules or viable scoleces. (05 Mar 2000) |
| sterile insect technique | A technique used to control or eradicate insect pests or vectors, utilizing induction by irradiation of dominant lethality in the chromosomes of the released insects. (05 Mar 2000) |