Antibiotics
Penicillin
Mechanism of Action
Penicillin G, when injected into the patient, will act against actively proliferating penicillin-sensitive strains of bacteria (Drugs.com, 2011). This does not include several strains of staphylococci producing penicillinase or bacteria that are quiescent. The mechanism of action is inhibition of cell-wall mucopeptide biosynthesis. Penicillin G. works best against staphylococci groups A, B, C, G, H, L, and M, pneumococci, Neisseria meningitides, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponemapallidum, and many others.
Clinical Uses
Penicillin is used to treat serious infections, such as septicemia, pneumonia, endocarditis, pericarditis, empyema, and meningitis (Drugs.com, 2011). Penicillin is also indicated in cases of anthrax, botulism, actinomycosis, diphtheria, listeria infections, erysipelothrix endocarditis, severe infections of the oropharynx, lower respiratory tract, and genitals. Penicillin is also used to treat gonorrhea, syphyilis, rat-bite fever, and Haverhill fever. Only penicillin-sensitive bacteria should be treated due to the risk of creating penicillin-resistant strains. Although treatment should begin immediately in urgent cases, the sensitivity of the infectious agent should be determined in all cases to prevent the development of drug-resistant strains.
Adverse Effects
Penicillin should be used cautiously in individuals with a history of allergic disease and should an allergic reaction occur, it use should be discontinued, unless penicillin is the only viable treatment for a life-threatening condition (Drugs.com, 2011). The estimated prevalence of penicillin allergy is between 0.7 to 10%. In patients with syphilis or other spirochetal infections, the following may occur within two hours and resolve within 24 hours: fever, chills, myalgias, headaches, tachycardia, hyperventilation, and vasodilation. This may be due to the release of pyrogens into the system. Gastrointestinal distress can occur: nausea, vomiting, stomatitis, and black or hairy tongue. High doses in renal patients can cause hemolytic anemia, serious or fatal electrolyte imbalances (due to sodium content), congestive heart failure, kidney damage, seizures, and coma.
Gentamicin
Mechanism of Action
Gentamicin belongs to a class of antibiotics defined by an aminoglycoside group (Drugs.com, 2014a). Gentamicin is harvested from the Micromonospora purpurea cultures. The bactericidal activity of gentamicin depends on the binding of the aminoglycoside group to bacterial ribosomes,...
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