ANTIBIOTICS – FIRST ANTIBIOTICS

Penicillin was first isolated from a mould by Fleming in 1929 but it was Chaim and the Australian, Florey, who first brought it into clinical use in 1940.

Originally, penicillin had to be given by injection but now derivatives are available which can be taken by mouth. This drug is bacteriocidal and has such a low toxicity that massive doses can be given without risk to the person.

However, allergy to penicillin is probably the commonest of the drug allergies. Some may show an allergy when first they take this drug, having previously been sensitised by minute quantities in milk. This gets in the milk because the antibiotic may be given to cows to prevent or treat mastitis.

Others can develop an allergy after having taken penicillin for years without trouble.

Some of the newer derivatives of penicillin, such as ampicillin, are more effective against a wider range of organisms than penicillin itself.

Ampicillin may cause a fine rash which is not due to allergy, although anyone allergic to penicillin will also be allergic to its derivatives.

Amoxycillin, a derivative of ampicillin, has now supplanted it. It has all the benefits of ampicillin but is absorbed in the presence of food and gives higher blood levels.

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