Antimicrobial
Nitrofurantoin
Reactive-intermediate urinary agent
ny-troh-fyoor-AN-toyn
High-yield clue
Bacterial nitroreductases convert nitrofurantoin into reactive intermediates that attack DNA and ribosomes, and it concentrates in urine.
Overview
A synthetic nitrofuran studied as a urinary-concentrated agent whose bacterial nitroreductases generate reactive intermediates that damage multiple microbial targets.
Classification
- Synthetic nitrofuran
- Prodrug requiring bacterial nitroreductase
- Multiple intracellular targets
- Bactericidal in urine
Lab & identification clues
- Reactive-intermediate DNA and ribosome damage concept
- Concentrates in urine, low tissue levels vocabulary
- Retained activity against many resistant enteric organisms
Associations
- Lower urinary tract study association
- Rare resistance emergence concept
- Pulmonary and hemolysis (G6PD) toxicity vocabulary
Commonly confused with
- Fosfomycin
- Sulfonamides-trimethoprim
Your notes
Original mechanism summary for microbiology study. Sources checked: CDC antimicrobial-resistance guidance, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and standard coursework frameworks; reviewed 2026-06. Covers class, mechanism, and resistance vocabulary only; no prescribing, dosing, or patient-specific treatment guidance.