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Penicillin

About: Penicillin is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 17916 publications have been published within this topic receiving 368480 citations. The topic is also known as: penicillin antibiotic & PCN.


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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A review of the 37 published cases of endocarditis due to gram-negative anaerobic bacilli revealed that these organisms appear to be more invasive and destructive than "viridans" streptococci.

83 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Obtaining a structured history from the patient and family physician alone can enable an accurate identification of penicillin allergy status and total acquisition cost of second-line antibiotics is higher than if these patients were prescribed first- line antibiotics.
Abstract: Aims To perform a pharmaco-economic analysis of prescribing alternative antibiotics in patients with a diagnostic label of ‘penicillin allergy’ and assess whether collation of information from a structured history and liaison with the family physician could reduce costs. Methods A prospective pro-forma-based interview of randomly selected in-patients and their family physician was used to assess the validity of the diagnostic label of ‘penicillin allergy’. Cost analysis of prescription of alternative antibiotics was performed and compared with first-line agents. Results 102 patients were assessed and only 40% (n=41) were found to have a history consistent with penicillin hypersensitivity, 40% (n=41) were likely ‘not allergic’ and 20% (n=20) had ‘indeterminate’ reactions. Total cost of antibiotics prescribed for patients with penicillin allergy was 1.82–2.58-fold higher than for first-line antibiotics. Conclusions Obtaining a structured history from the patient and family physician alone can enable an accurate identification of penicillin allergy status. Total acquisition cost of second-line antibiotics is higher than if these patients were prescribed first-line antibiotics.

83 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Examination of the amounts of antibiotic bound and the rates of binding to PBPs of equal numbers of protoplasts and whole bacteria of S. faecalis and S. Faecium indicated that there was no permeability barrier to benzylpenicillin in the cell walls of these species.
Abstract: SUMMARY: Six penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) were detected in clinical isolates of each one of three group D streptococci: Streptococcus bovis, S. faecalis and S. faecium. When examined in whole organisms, the PBPs of S. faecium, the most penicillin-resistant species of group D streptococci, generally had lower affinities for the antibiotic than those of S. faecalis (intermediate penicillin resistance), which in turn were of lower affinity than those of S. bovis (penicillin-sensitive): On the other hand, no quantitative correlation could be established between the binding of penicillin to any one PBP or group of PBPs, and the penicillin MIC value for the corresponding micro-organism. Examination of the amounts of antibiotic bound and the rates of binding to PBPs of equal numbers of protoplasts and whole bacteria of S. faecalis and S. faecium, indicated that there was no permeability barrier to benzylpenicillin in the cell walls of these species. The lower antibacterial effectiveness of cephalothin compared with ampicillin in group D streptococci was paralleled by the higher concentrations of cephalothin needed in competition assays to inhibit the lower molecular size PBPs of these bacteria.

83 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: Effectiveness of pneumitiscal vaccination has been confirmed in cases of bacteriemic pneumococcal pneumonia (elderly patients included), and vaccine is recommended among persons with comorbiditie(s) and 65 years old population.
Abstract: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most commonly identified pathogen in patients with community-acquired pneumonia. 40% of isolated strains in France are of decreased sensibility to penicillin, two third being multiresistant to antibiotics. However, high doses of some beta-lactams are effective in vivo against the majority of circulating strains (MIC > 2 mg/L). For this reason according to French guidelines amoxicillin (3 g/day) is the first line recommended treatment. Telithromycin is an alternative, or ceftriaxone (1 g/day) in more severe cases. If the level of resistance increases (MIC > 4 mg/L) guidelines would be revisited. Effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccination has been confirmed in cases of bacteriemic pneumococcal pneumonia (elderly patients included). Vaccine is recommended among persons with comorbiditie(s) and 65 years old population.

83 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The true incidence of cross-hypersensitivity reactions between penicillin and carbapenems may be lower than previously reported and Carbapenem use may be reasonable forPenicillin allergic patients if caution is exercised.
Abstract: Objectives The purpose of this retrospective study was to ascertain the clinical safety of administering carbapenems, namely imipenem/cilastatin and meropenem, in patients with a history of penicillin allergy compared with administering carbapenems in patients with no reported penicillin allergy. Carbapenems are similar in chemical structure to the penicillins and therefore are associated with a risk for allergic cross-hypersensitivity. Carbapenems are commonly avoided in patients with a reported penicillin allergy on the basis of a potential cross-hypersensitivity with penicillin, however, very few studies have been conducted describing the incidence of cross-hypersensitivity between penicillin and carbapenems. Methods A retrospective review was conducted in a total of 266 patients who were administered either imipenem/cilastatin or meropenem. The patients were admitted to the Cleveland Clinic Health System--Eastern Region Hospitals during the years 2001 and 2002. Results Fifteen of the 163 patients (9.2%) with reported penicillin allergy developed a hypersensitivity reaction to meropenem or imipenem/cilastatin whereas 3.9% of the 103 patients without penicillin allergy developed a hypersensitivity reaction to meropenem or imipenem/cilastatin. These results are not statistically significant. Conclusions Based on this study and other similar studies, the true incidence of cross-hypersensitivity reactions between penicillin and carbapenems may be lower than previously reported. Carbapenem use may be reasonable for penicillin allergic patients if caution is exercised.

83 citations


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Performance
Metrics
No. of papers in the topic in previous years
YearPapers
2023459
2022907
2021249
2020269
2019221
2018192