1. NATURAL PENICILLINS
DRUGS: Penicillin G Sodium or Potassium (Benzyl Penicillin): Administered IV or IM
Penicillin V or Phenoxymethylpenicillin: Administered orally
Penicillin G procaine and Penicillin G benzathine: Administered through IM
BACTERIAL SPECTRUM: Gram positive cocci and some gram negative cocci
INDICATIONS: Penicillin G and V are used in streptoccocal infections such as pneumonia, pharyngitis, otitis media, sinusitis; and also prophylaxis of streptococcal infections, rheumatic fever and neonatal gonorrhea ophthalmia. While Penicillin G and Pen G procaine are used to treat syphilis, uncomplicated gonorrhea, bubonic plague, leptosirosis and anthrax.
2. PENICILLINASE-RESISTANT PENICILLINS
DRUGS: Methicillin, Nafcillin, Isoxazolyl penicillins; Oxallin: dicloxacillin, oxacillin, cloxacillin, flucloxacillin
BACTERIAL SPECTRUM: Staphylococci that produce penicillinases or beta-lactamases
INDICATIONS: Staphylococcal infections resulting from organisms that resist natural penicillins
3. AMINOPENICILLINS
DRUGS: Ampicillin, Amoxicillin, Bacampicillin, Cyclacillin
BACTERIAL SPECTRUM: Similar to natural penicillins but slightly broader. It is a broad-spectrum penicillins.
INDICATIONS: Gonococcal infections, URTI, uncomplicated UTI and otitis media caused by susceptible organisms.
4. EXTENDED-SPECTRUM PENICILLINS OR ANTI-PSEUDOMONAL PENICILLINS
DRUGS: Carboxypenicillins: carbenicillin, ticarcillin; and, Ureidopenicillins: mezlocillin, piperacillin
BACTERIAL SPECTRUM: Added activity against Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Proteus and some Bacteroides; For Ureidopenicillin Klebsiella
INDICATIONS: Mainly for the treatment of infections caused by gram negative organisms such as in the case of sepsis, pneumonia, abdominal infections, bone infections and soft tissue infections.
