Chloramphenicol is a broad acting antibiotic that, ironically, is derived from a certain type of bacteria. Being both inexpensive and useful against a wide variety of bacteria, it is often used as a first-choice antibiotic, particularly throughout the developing world. However, it is less seldom used in the developed world as a wide variety of bacterial strains are resistant to it. However, it is often used to treat meningitis as it can treat the three major causes of it. It is also used as an alternative to penicillin when someone is allergic to penicillin.
The major side effect of chloramphenicol is bone marrow toxicity, which can lead to fatal aplastic anemia.