Penicillin : antibiotic functions, benefits and adverse reactions
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Penicillin:-
Penicillin is a effective Antibiotic belongs to beta lactam group, used to treat bacterial infections. Penicillin is effective against Gram positive bacterias.
Penicillin acts on the cell wall of the bacteria. Penicillin interferes with the formation of bacterial cell wall, the weak cell wall of bacteria ruptures and becomes unable to reproduce or sustain. The bursting of bacterial cell components through bacterial cell wall leads to destruction of organism. Some bacterias are resistant to penicillin, because the gram negative organisms don’t lose cell wall when exposed to Penicillin.
Derivatives of penicillin:-
* Ampicillin,
* Flucloxacillin,
* Dicloxacillin,
* Methicillin, etc..
Penicillin is ineffective in oral route, as it becomes unstabilized in presence of Hydrochloric acid of stomach. Benzylpenicillin, is also called as Penicillin G, is the commonly used penicillin, for intramuscular administration.
Indications for Benzylpenicillin or penicillin-G :-
* Cellulitis,
* Meningitis,
* bacterial endocarditis,
* Lung abscess, Pneumonia,
* Septicemia
* Syphilis, Gonorrhea etc are the indications of penicillin-G
Phenoxy methyl pancillin is the orally used penicillin is called as Penicillin-V is less effective than Penicillin-G.
Penicillin-V is indicated for infections of Streptococcus pyogenes such as pharyngitis, Tonsillitis, skin lesions or infections etc.
Penicillin-V is effective against odontogenic infections. And also used for treatment of gingivitis and prevention of Rheumatic fever.
Procaine penicillin is the combination of benzylpenicillin and local anaesthesia, for the prolonged absorption and is given as deep intramuscular injection.
Procaine penicillin is indicated for Syphilis and Cellulitis, respiratory tract infections etc.
Adverse drug Reactions of penicillin:
* Urticaria or Anaphylactic allergic reactions are found in nearly 6 to 10 % of patients.
* So the test dose of penicillin is compulsory for all the individuals, to test the allergic reactions to penicillin.
* Other adverse reactions of Penicillin are Hypersensitivity, Nausea, rash, are the other side effects.
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