Penicillin (Antibiotics)

In 1928, Alexander Fleming noted that mold belonging to the genus Penicillium inhibited the growth of bacteria. Fleming called this unknown antibacterial substance penicillin. Ten years later, a group at Oxford University began to investigate penicillin in laboratory mice. Penicillin was hailed as a miracle drug and saved countless lives in World War II.

Penicillins are antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections that are derived from the antibiotic penicillin.

Today, many derivatives of penicillin have been developed that inhibit more types of bacteria than the original life-saving drug. Penicillin itself is active against

• streptococci (including Streptococcus pneumoniae),
• Listeria, Neisseria gonorrhoeae,
• Clostridium,
• Peptococcus, and
• Peptostreptococcus.

However, most staphylococci now are resistant to penicillin.

Other penicillin antibiotics are effective against

• H. influenzae,
• E. coli, pneumococci,
• certain strains of staphylococci,
• Salmonella,
• Shigella,
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and
• many other types of bacteria.

Penicillin antibiotics are used to treat many types of infections caused by susceptible bacteria. They are used to treat infections of the middle ear, sinuses, stomach and intestines, bladder, and kidney. They also are used for treating

• pneumonia,
• blood infections (sepsis),
• uncomplicated gonorrhea,
• meningitis,
• endocarditis, and
• other serious infections.

• penicillin V
• penicillin G (Pfizerpen, Permapen)
• amoxicillin (Amoxil)
• amoxicillin/clavulonate (Augmentin)
• ampicillin (Unasyn)
• nafcillin (Nallpen)
• oxacillin (Bactocill)
• dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen are discontinued brands in the US; generic is available)
• cloxacillin (discontinued in the US)
• piperacillin (Pipracil)
• piperacillin/tazobactam (Zosyn)
• ticarcillin (Ticar) (Discontinued in the US; ; generic is not available))
• ticarcillin/clavulonate (Timentin) (Discontinued in the US and a generic is not available.)

Side effects of penicillin antibiotics include

• diarrhea,
• dizziness,
• heartburn,
• insomnia,
• nausea,
• itching,
• vomiting,
• confusion,
• abdominal pain,
• easy bruising,
• bleeding,
• rash, and
• allergic reactions.

Individuals who are allergic to the cephalosporin class of antibiotics, which are related to the penicillins, for example, cefaclor (Ceclor), cephalexin (Keflex), and cefprozil (Cefzil), may or may not be allergic to penicillins.

Serious but rare reactions include

• seizures,
• kidney problems,
• oral fungal infections,
• severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), and
• low blood platelet levels (thrombocytopenia) or red blood cell count.

Like other antibiotics, penicillin antibiotics can alter the normal bacteria in the colon and encourage overgrowth of some bacteria such as Clostridium difficile, which causes inflammation of the colon (C. difficile colitis or pseudomembranous colitis).

Signs and symptoms of C. difficile colitis include

• diarrhea,
• fever,
• abdominal pain, and
• possibly shock.

Penicillin antibiotics have few important drug interactions.

• Probenecid (Benemid) causes an increase in the amount of penicillins in the body by preventing excretion of penicillin by the kidneys.
• Combining ampicillin with allopurinol (Zyloprim) can increase the incidence of drug-related skin rash.
• Penicillin antibiotics may reduce the effect of BCG live vaccine and typhoid live vaccine.

Penicillin antibiotics are available as

• tablets,
• capsules,
• powder for oral suspension, and
• powder for injection.

• Penicillin antibiotics are considered safe to use during pregnancy.
• Although small amounts of penicillins pass into breast milk they are considered safe to use while breastfeeding.

Penicillin antibiotics stop bacteria from multiplying by preventing bacteria from forming the walls that surround them. The walls are necessary to protect the bacteria from their environment, and to keep the contents of the bacterial cell together. Bacteria cannot survive without a cell wall. Penicillin antibiotics are most effective when bacteria are actively multiplying and forming cell walls.