PENICILLINS

ABOUT

• Discovered in 1928
• Can be a natural product of mold, or semisynthetic
• Identified by -cillin suffix in drug name
• 4 groups - natural, broad-spectrum, beta-lactamase resistant, and potentiated
• Affect cell walls of bacteria

MODE OF ACTION

• They interfere with bacterial wall synthesis
• Causing bacteria to have weak walls
• Resulting in bacteria that eventually die
• = Bactericidal Action

SPECTRUM

• Natural=Narrow
• Broad-Spectrum=Broad
• Beta-Lactamase Resistant=Narrow
• Potentiated=Spectrum depends on combination

EXAMPLES

• Penicillin G, penicillin V
• Amoxicillin, ampicillin, carbenicillin, ticarcillin, piperacillin
• Oxacillin, dicloxacillin, cloxacillin
• Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid combination (Clavamox)

SIDE EFFECTS

• Anorexia
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Hypersensitivity reactions - when given parenterally