Penicillins

Penicillins is a topic covered in the Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics.

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General Principles

  • Penicillins (PCNs) irreversibly bind PCN-binding proteins (PBPs) in the bacterial cell wall, ultimately causing osmotic rupture and death. Acquired resistance in many bacterial species through alterations in PBPs or expression of hydrolytic enzymes has limited their use.
  • PCNs remain among the drugs of choice for syphilis and infections caused by PCN-sensitive streptococci and enterococci, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Listeria monocytogenes, Pasteurella multocida, and Actinomyces.

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General Principles

  • Penicillins (PCNs) irreversibly bind PCN-binding proteins (PBPs) in the bacterial cell wall, ultimately causing osmotic rupture and death. Acquired resistance in many bacterial species through alterations in PBPs or expression of hydrolytic enzymes has limited their use.
  • PCNs remain among the drugs of choice for syphilis and infections caused by PCN-sensitive streptococci and enterococci, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Listeria monocytogenes, Pasteurella multocida, and Actinomyces.

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