beta lactams

1.       BETA LACTAMS

This is a major class of broad spectrum antibacterial. The term broad spectrum means that the drug has effective activity against a large group of bacteria. They bind to Penicillin binding bacteria of the bacteria to prevent it from forming bacterial cell wall. They also possess a beta-lactam ring/molecule that binds to the active sites of  bacterial enzymes to inhibit their activity.

This major class is divided in smaller classes that include;

i)        Penicillins (penams)

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

Ø  pneumonia,

Ø  blood infections (sepsis),

Ø  uncomplicated gonorrhea,

Ø  meningitis,

Ø  endocarditis, and

Ø  other serious infections.

Microorganisms susceptible to penicillin and its derivatives include; streptococci (including Streptococcus pneumoniae),Listeria, Neisseria gonorrhoeae,Clostridium,Peptococcus, and Peptostreptococcus. H. influenzae, E. coli, pneumococci, Salmonella,Shigella, SPseudomonas aeruginosa, 

Examples of penicillins include:

• penicillin V
• penicillin G (Pfizerpen, Permapen)
• amoxicillin (Amoxil)
• ampicillin (Unasyn)
• nafcillin (Nallpen)
• oxacillin (Bactocill)
• dicloxacillin (Dycill, Dynapen )
• cloxacillin (discontinued in the US)
• piperacillin (Pipracil)
• ticarcillin (Ticar)
• flucloxacillin (floxapen)

Metabolism- Liver

Elimination- Renal

Pregnancy category - B

side effects

• Ø  nausea,
• Ø  vomiting,
• Ø  diarrhea,
• Ø  abdominal pain,
• Ø  stomach upset,
• Ø  skin rash,
• Ø  hives,
• Ø  itching

flucloxacillin, cephalosporins

para-cervical block, leukemia, complete blood count