What can only be treated with penicillin?
Penicillin is given to patients with an infection caused by bacteria. Some types of bacterial infections that may be treated with penicillin include pneumonia, strep throat, meningitis, syphilis and gonorrhea, according to the National Library of Medicine.
What is penicillin mainly used for?
Penicillins are used in the treatment of throat infections, meningitis, syphilis, and various other infections. The chief side effects of penicillin are hypersensitivity reactions, including skin rash, hives, swelling, and anaphylaxis, or allergic shock. The more serious reactions are uncommon.
What is penicillin used for other than antibiotics?
Doctors may prescribe penicillins to treat pneumonia, syphilis, and meningitis, among other bacterial infections. However, they are not used to treat viral, parasitic, or fungal infections. Read on to learn more about the antibiotic class of penicillins, how they are used, and what side effects they can cause.
What organisms does penicillin treat?
The natural penicillins have activity against non-beta-lactamase producing gram-positive cocci, including viridans streptococci, group A streptococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and anaerobic streptococcus (Peptostreptococcus, Peptococcus sp.).
Can penicillin treat UTI?
The following antibiotics are used to treat UTIs: Beta-lactams, including penicillins and cephalosporins (for example, Amoxicillin, Augmentin, Keflex, Duricef, Ceftin, Lorabid, Rocephin, Cephalexin, Suprax, and others); many organisms have resistance to some of these drugs.
Can penicillin treat STDS?
Penicillin and other ß-lactam antibiotics have a crucial role in treating STIs. Penicillin is recommended for all clinical stages of syphilis, and no proven alternatives exist for treating neurosyphilis, congenital syphilis, or syphilis during pregnancy.
What disease did penicillin first cure?
Widespread use of Penicillin The first patient was successfully treated for streptococcal septicemia in the United States in 1942. However, supply was limited and demand was high in the early days of penicillin. Penicillin helped reduce the number of deaths and amputations of troops during World War II.
Can amoxicillin treat UTI?
UTIs can cause infection and inflammation. Doctors commonly prescribe antibiotics such as amoxicillin to treat urinary tract infections and help you feel better. Taking amoxicillin to treat a urinary tract infection (UTI) should start helping you feel better within a few days.
What bacteria is targeted by penicillin?
Gram-positive bacteria have a peptidoglycan layer on the outside of the cell wall. Gram-negative bacteria have peptidoglycan between membranes. Penicillin works best on gram-positive bacteria by inhibiting peptidoglycan production, making the cells leaky and fragile.
Administration
- Penicillin V potassium comes as a tablet and as an oral solution (liquid) to take by mouth. For the treatment of infections, it is usually taken every 6 hours (four times a day) or every 8 hours (three times a day). For the prevention of rheumatic fever, it is usually taken twice a day. The length of your treatment depends on the type of infection that you have. Take penicillin V potassium at ar…
- Penicillin is usually given by injection. Some types can be injected into a vein while others must be injected into a muscle or under the skin. An oral form is available but is rarely prescribed. It works best on an empty stomach but may be given with food if stomach upset occurs.
- IM: Administer IM by deep injection in the upper outer quadrant of the buttock. Administer injection around-the-clock to promote less variation in peak and trough levels.IV: Usually administered by intermittent infusion. In some centers, large doses may be administered by continuous IV infusion. Note: The 20 million unit dosage form may be administered by IV infusio…
- Penicillin G, in contrast to penicillin V, is poorly absorbed through intestine. Therefore it must be given intravenously or intramuscularly. When given intravenously or intramuscularly, the peak plasma concentration is obtained within 15-30 minutes. Amoxicillin comes in the form of dry tablets, capsules and chewable tablets with varying strength of 250 mg or 500mg. Make sure to …
Treatment
- Take penicillin V potassium until you finish the prescription, even if you feel better. Do not stop taking penicillin V potassium without talking to your doctor. If you stop taking penicillin V potassium too soon or if you skip doses, your infection may not be completely treated and the bacteria may become resistant to antibiotics.
- Penicillin has a limited spectrum of activity, and many types of bacteria have developed resistance to this drug. For these reasons, veterinarians typically prescribe penicillin when they are reasonably sure that it will be effective against a particular infection or in combination with other drugs.
Side Effects
- Penicillin has a wide margin of safety. Its most serious side effects are associated with a serious type of allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. Gastrointestinal upset is also possible. Side effects that owners should watch for include: 1. Hives and other skin rashes 2. Itchiness 3. Facial swelling 4. Difficulty breathing 5. Vomiting 6. Diarrhea 7. Loss of appetite...
- Side effects of penicillin are grouped into following categories: Here are some common side effects of penicillin: Some serious side effects are: The side effects of amoxicillin are as follows: Some common side effects of amoxicillin are: Below are specified the serious side effects of amoxicillin:
Mechanism Of Action
- Penicillin kills susceptible bacteria by disrupting their cell walls and by preventing them from building a functional cell wall when they reproduce.
- Penicillin falls among those antibiotic that tend to inhibit the synthesis of bacterial cell wall (3). Before understanding the mechanism of action of penicillin, lets have a review of structure of bacterial cell wall. Bacterial cell wall is composed of peptidoglycans and polysaccharides that are connected to each other in complex manner, responsible for maintaining the integrity of bacteria…
Contraindications
- Do not mix injectable forms of penicillin in the same syringe with other medications unless directed to do so by a veterinarian. Penicillin should generally not be given with other antibiotics that inhibit bacterial growth because penicillin works by killing bacteria that are actively growing.
- Hypersensitivity to any penicillin or any component of the formulationDocumentation of allergenic cross-reactivity for beta-lactams (eg, penicillins and cephalosporins) is limited. However, because of similarities in chemical structure and/or pharmacologic actions, the possibility of cross-sensitivity cannot be ruled out with certainty.
- Above mentioned recommended dosage should be kept in mind before taking penicillin. However, the slight variations can be made in the recommended dosage depending upon the type and severity of infection. Following precautions need to be considered while taking using penicillin:
Pharmacology
- Interferes with bacterial cell wall synthesis during active multiplication, causing cell wall death and resultant bactericidal activity against susceptible bacteria...
- When a drug enters the body, it undergoes through various changes that are known as pharmacokinetics. The four phases in the pharmacokinetics of penicillin are given below: Oral penicillin is absorbed mainly through the small intestine. However, the oral penicillin is highly labile to stomach acid. Stomach acid destroys the drug before it reaches its absorption site, thu…
History
- Naturally-occurring penicillin was the first antibiotic to be discovered. Many modified forms of penicillin are now available, but the natural form is still in use today.
Potential Drug Reactions
- Do not mix injectable forms of penicillin in the same syringe with other medications unless directed to do so by a veterinarian. Penicillin should generally not be given with other antibiotics that inhibit bacterial growth because penicillin works by killing bacteria that are actively growing.
- Frequency not defined.Cardiovascular: Localized phlebitis, local thrombophlebitisCentral nervous system: Coma (high doses), hyperreflexia (high doses), myoclonus (high doses), seizure (high doses)Dermatologic: Contact dermatitis, skin rashEndocrine & metabolic: Electrolyte disturbance (high doses)Gastrointestinal: Pseudomembranous colitisHematologic & oncologic: Neutropenia…
Drug Interactions
- Acemetacin: May increase the serum concentration of Penicillins. Monitor therapyBCG (Intravesical): Antibiotics may diminish the therapeutic effect of BCG (Intravesical). Avoid combinationBCG Vaccine (Immunization): Antibiotics may diminish the therapeutic effect of BCG Vaccine (Immunization). Monitor therapyCholera Vaccine: Antibiotics may diminish the therapeu…
Toxicity
- Penicillin is generally considered safe for use in dogs, cats, horses, livestock, and many exotic pets. It can cause a disruption of the normal bacterial population within the gut of some species, especially rodents. Guinea pigs should not be given penicillin because they are prone to developing a potentially fatal condition that is caused by overgrowth of harmful bacteria within t…