Trimethoprim is a bactericidal antibiotic effective against bacteria responsible for urinary tract infections, prostatitis, and cystitis. It is commonly combined with sulfamethoxazole to combat Staphylococcus aureus.

Trimethoprim functions as a prokaryotic dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor, preventing bacteria from taking up folic acid, which is required to synthesized the nucleotide thymine. Consequently, it is an inhibitor of DNA synthesis.

Antibiotics are often used in clinical in vitro tests known as antimicrobial susceptibility tests or ASTs to determine their efficacy against certain bacterial species. They are tested against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria using panels, discs, and MIC strips by medical microbiologists. ASTs decrease the risk of using an antibiotic against bacteria exhibiting resistance to it, and the results are used in clinical settings to determine which antibiotic(s) to prescribe for various infections.

Product Specifications
Trimethoprim

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY GRADE

Formula: C₁₄H₁₈N₄O₃

MW: 290.32 g/mol

Storage/Handling: Store at 2-8 °C.
Soluble in chloroform.

PubChem Chemical ID: 5578