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Questions and Answers
What is the common structural feature of penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics?
What is the mechanism of action of penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics?
Who discovered penicillin?
What type of bacteria are penicillin antibiotics effective against?
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What is a mechanism of resistance to penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics?
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What is a common clinical use of penicillin and cephalosporin antibiotics?
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Study Notes
Classification and Structure
- Penicillin and Cephalosporin are beta-lactam antibiotics
- Consist of a beta-lactam ring and a side chain
- Differ in the structure of the side chain and the way they are produced
Mechanism of Action
- Inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs)
- Interfere with the final stage of bacterial cell wall formation
- Cause bacterial lysis and death
Penicillin
- Discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928
- Produced by the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum
- Effective against Gram-positive bacteria
- Examples of penicillin antibiotics:
- Penicillin G (benzylpenicillin)
- Penicillin V (phenoxymethylpenicillin)
- Amoxicillin
Cephalosporin
- Developed from the fungus Cephalosporium
- Effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria
- Examples of cephalosporin antibiotics:
- Cephalexin
- Ceftriaxone
- Ceftazidime
Resistance
- Bacteria can develop resistance to penicillin and cephalosporin through:
- Beta-lactamase enzymes that break down the beta-lactam ring
- Alterations in PBPs to reduce antibiotic binding
- Changes in cell wall structure to reduce antibiotic penetration
Clinical Use
- Used to treat a wide range of bacterial infections, including:
- Respiratory tract infections
- Skin and soft tissue infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Meningitis and sepsis
Beta-Lactam Antibiotics
- Penicillin and Cephalosporin are beta-lactam antibiotics, characterized by a beta-lactam ring and a side chain
- They differ in their side chain structure and production methods
Mechanism of Action
- Inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs)
- Interfere with the final stage of bacterial cell wall formation, causing bacterial lysis and death
Penicillin
- Discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928
- Produced by the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum
- Effective against Gram-positive bacteria
- Examples: Penicillin G (benzylpenicillin), Penicillin V (phenoxymethylpenicillin), Amoxicillin
Cephalosporin
- Developed from the fungus Cephalosporium
- Effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria
- Examples: Cephalexin, Ceftriaxone, Ceftazidime
Antibiotic Resistance
- Bacteria develop resistance through:
- Beta-lactamase enzymes that break down the beta-lactam ring
- Alterations in PBPs to reduce antibiotic binding
- Changes in cell wall structure to reduce antibiotic penetration
Clinical Applications
- Used to treat various bacterial infections, including:
- Respiratory tract infections
- Skin and soft tissue infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Meningitis and sepsis
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Description
Learn about the structure and mechanism of action of beta-lactam antibiotics, including penicillin and cephalosporin, and how they inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis.
