Chemo

Penicillins are antibiotics derived from the Penicillium mold. They are classified as beta-lactam antibiotics because of their fused beta-lactam structure. They also have a free carboxyl acid group, and one or more substituted amino acid side chains (Ophardt, 2003). Their primary mode of action is to inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis by preventing the cross linking of peptides on the mucosaccharide chains, thereby causing the bacterial cells to inundate with water and burst (Ophardt, 2003). Penicillin is not a singular compound, hence the term "penicillins," referring to compounds that share a ring-like structure, and which are derived from two amino acids (valine and cysteine) via a tripeptide intermediate," (The Microbial World, n.d.).

Some penicillins are relatively limited in their scope, are used to treat mild or moderate infections. The development of resistance in target microorganisms, coupled with the tendency for some patients to be allergic to penicillins, also renders...
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