There are different types of penicillin with differentmechanisms of action.
All forms are derived, at least in part, from the fungusPenicillium chrysogenum.
Penicillin may be administered by mouth or by injection.
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This article discusses penicillin, its uses, and how it should be taken.
It also goes over penicillin resistance and precautions you should take when using this medication.
What Is Penicillin?
Penicillins are antibiotics that belong to a larger family of drugs known as beta-lactam antibiotics.
Penicillin was the world’s first widely used antibiotic.
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928.
He isolated the active agent in the fungus and named it penicillin.
Penicillins work by binding to molecules on the walls of bacteria calledpeptidoglycan.
Natural penicillins are those directly derived fromP.
There are two natural penicillins.
Semisynthetic penicillins are produced in a lab to resemble chemical substances found inP.
Semisynthetic penicillins include commonly prescribed antibiotics like amoxicillin and ampicillin.
What Does Penicillin Treat?
Penicillins are used for treating bacterial infections.
They don’t treat viral, fungal, or parasitic infections.
pylori,Lyme disease, and pneumonia.
Off-label use includes treatment of critical care patients withsepsisor newborns withacute respiratory distress.
Penicillin resistance pops up if mutant bacterial strains resistant to the antibiotic are passed throughout a population.
Before Taking
Penicillin can be very effective if used appropriately.
Even so, there are instances when the drug is not effective in clearing an infection.
This includescephalosporinantibiotics like cephalexin, cefepime, ceftriaxone, and Suprax (cefixime).
Penicillin should also be used with extreme caution if you haveacute renal (kidney) failure.
Penicillin G injections are not self-administered.
Penicillin V
Penicillin V is available as an oral tablet or a cherry-flavored powder mixed with water.
Both can be safely stored at room temperature.
Once the powder is reconstituted, it should be stored in the refrigerator and discarded after 14 days.
Penicillin V should be taken on an empty stomach to ensure maximum absorption.
It should be taken at least one hour before a meal or at least two hours after a meal.
If you miss a dose of penicillin V, take it as soon as you remember.
If it is near the time of your next dose, skip the dose and continue as normal.
Never double up on doses.
Use as Directed
Always take penicillin as directed and to completion.
Do not stop because you feel well.
you gotta take the entire course so that all bacteria are eradicated.
Small amounts of remaining bacteria can proliferate once treatment is stopped.
But sometimes side effects can be severeand even life-threateningand require emergency care.
True penicillin-induced anaphylaxis is rare, affecting about .015% to .04% of those taking penicillin.
Anaphylaxis can reap serious harm if it is left untreated.
It can lead to shock, coma, respiratory or cardiac failure, and even death.
Symptoms include nausea, rash, fever, drowsiness, diminished urine output, fluid retention, and vomiting.
Most cases are mild, but some can turn serious and cause anacute kidney injury.
Penicillins, like all antibiotics, are associated with an increased risk ofClostridioides difficilediarrhea.
This is caused when bacteria that are normally present in the gut are obliterated by antibiotics, allowingC.
Most cases are mild and readily treatable, butC.
difficilehas been known on rare occasions to cause severefulminant colitis,toxic megacolon, and death.
Warnings and Interactions
Penicillins are generally considered safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Evidence in humans is lacking, but animal studies have shown no risk of fetal harm.
A number of drugs can also interact with penicillin, oftentimes by competing for clearance in the kidneys.
This can increase penicillin concentrations in the blood as well as the risk of side effects and drug toxicity.
Other medications can speed the clearance of penicillin from the body and reduce the drug’s effectiveness.
Summary
Penicillin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.
It works by preventing bacteria from dividing properly.
Some bacteria are becoming resistant to penicillin, so it is sometimes given in combination with other medicines.
If you take penicillin, be sure to finish the entire course of medication even if you feel better.
This can help prevent antibacterial resistance.
Some people are allergic to penicillin.
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