Analogues of penicillin. Antibiotics of the penicillin group: indications, instructions for use

Penicillin analogues have opened up new opportunities for doctors in the treatment of infectious diseases. They are more resistant to enzymes of bacteria and aggressive environment of the stomach, have fewer side effects.

About penicillins

Penicillins are the oldest known antibiotics. They have many species, but some of them have lost their relevance due to resistance. Bacteria were able to adapt and became insensitive to the action of these drugs. This forces scientists to create new types of mold, penicillin analogues, with new properties.

Penicillins have a low toxicity for the body, a fairly wide application and a good indicator of bactericidal action, but allergic reactions to them occur much more often than doctors would like. This is due to the organic nature of antibiotics. Another negative quality can also be attributed to the difficulty in combining them with other medicines, especially with similar in class.

History

The first mention of penicillins in literature took place in 1963, in a book about Indian sorceresses. They used a mixture of fungi for medicinal purposes. For the first time in the enlightened world, they managed to get them to Alexander Fleming, but it happened not purposefully, but accidentally, like all the great discoveries.

Before the Second World War, English microbiologists worked on the issue of industrial production of medicines in the required quantities. The same task was handled in parallel in the United States. From that moment, penicillin became the most common medicine. But over time, other groups of antibiotics were isolated and synthesized , which gradually pushed him from the podium. In addition, microorganisms began to develop resistance to this drug, which complicated the treatment of severe infections.

The principle of antibacterial action

The composition of the cell wall of bacteria includes a substance called peptidoglycan. The penicillin group of antibiotics influences the synthesis of this protein, suppressing the formation of the necessary enzymes. The microorganism is dying because of the inability to update the cell wall.

However, some bacteria have learned to resist such a brutal invasion. They produce beta-lactamase, which destroys enzymes that affect peptidoglycans. In order to cope with this obstacle, scientists had to create analogues of penicillin, capable of destroying and beta-lactamase too.

Danger to humans

At the very beginning of the era of antibiotics, scientists thought about how toxic they would become to the human body, because virtually all living metric is made up of proteins. But having conducted a sufficient number of studies, we found out that peptidoglycan practically does not exist in our organisms, which means that the drug can not cause any serious harm.

Spectrum of action

Virtually all types of penicillins affect gram-positive bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus, streptococcus, corynebacteria diphtheria and plague pathogens. Also in their spectrum of action include all Gram-negative microorganisms, gonococci and meningococci, anaerobic sticks and even some fungi (for example, actinomycetes).

Scientists are inventing newer and newer types of penicillins, trying to prevent bacteria from getting used to their bactericidal properties, but this group of drugs is no longer suitable for the treatment of nosocomial infections . One of the negative properties of this type of antibiotic is dysbacteriosis, since the human intestine is colonized by bacteria that are sensitive to the effects of penicillin. This is worth remembering when taking medicine.

Main types (classification)

Modern scientists suggest a modern division of penicillins into four groups:

1. Natural, which are synthesized by fungi. These include benzylpenicillins and phenoxymethylpenicillin. These drugs have a narrow spectrum of action, mainly on gram-negative bacteria.
2. Semi-synthetic preparations having resistance to penicillinases. They are used to treat a wide range of pathogens. Representatives: methicillin, oxacillin, nafcillin.
3. Carboxypenicillins (carbpenicillin).
4. A group of drugs with a wide spectrum of action:
   Ureidopenicillins;
   Amidopenicillins.

Biosynthetic forms

For example, it is worthwhile to mention some of the most common drugs at the moment, which correspond to this group. Perhaps the most famous of the pennicinalis can be considered "Bicillin-3" and "Bicillin-5." They discovered a group of natural antibiotics and were flagships in their category, until more advanced forms of antimicrobial drugs appeared.

1. Extensillin. Instruction for use says that it is a beta-lactam antibiotic of extended action. Indications for its use are exacerbations of rheumatic disease and diseases caused by treponema (syphilis, yaws and pint). Produced in powders. "Extensillin" instructions for use do not recommend combining with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NVS), as possible competitive interaction. This can adversely affect the effectiveness of treatment.
2. "Penicillin-Fau" refers to the group of phenoxymethylpenicillins. It is used for the treatment of infectious diseases of the ENT organs, skin and mucous membranes, gonorrhea, syphilis, tetanus. It is used as a preventive measure after surgical interventions, to maintain remission with rheumatism, small chorea, bacterial endocarditis.
3. The antibiotic "Ospen" is an analogue of the previous preparation. It is available in the form of tablets or granules. It is not recommended to combine with NVPs and oral contraceptives. It is often used in the treatment of childhood diseases.

Semi-synthetic forms

To this group of drugs are chemically modified antibiotics obtained from mold fungi.

1. The first in this list is "Amoxicillin". Instruction for use (price - about 100 rubles) indicates that the drug has a wide range of effects and is used for bacterial infections of almost any localization. Its advantage is that it is stable in the acidic environment of the stomach, and after absorption, the concentration in the blood is higher than that of other representatives of this group. But do not idealize "Amoxicillin." Instructions for use (the price varies in different regions) warns that the drug should not be administered to patients with mononucleosis, allergies and pregnant women. Long-term administration is not possible due to a significant number of adverse reactions.
2. Oxacillin sodium salt is prescribed when the bacteria produce penicillinase. The drug is acid-fast, it can be taken orally, absorbed well in the intestine. It is quickly excreted by the kidneys, so it is necessary to constantly maintain the desired concentration of it in the blood. The only contraindication is an allergic reaction. Produced in the form of tablets or in vials, as an injection liquid.
3. The last representative of semisynthetic penicillins is ampicillin trihydrate. Instructions for use (tablets) indicate that it has a wide range of effects, affecting both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Patients are well tolerated, but with caution should be prescribed to those who take anticoagulants (for example, people with pathology of the cardiovascular system), since the drug potentiates their effect.

Solvent

Penicillins are sold in pharmacies in the form of powder for injection. Therefore, for intravenous or intramuscular injection, they must be dissolved in the liquid. At home, you can use distilled water for injection, isotonic sodium chloride solution or a solution of 2% novocaine. It must be remembered that the solvent should not be too warm.

Indications, contraindications and side effects

Indications for treatment with antibiotics are diagnoses: croupous and focal pneumonia, pleural empyema, sepsis and septicemia, septic endocarditis, meningitis, osteomyelitis. In the field of action fall bacterial sore throats, diphtheria, scarlet fever, anthrax, gonorrhea, syphilis, purulent skin infections.

There are few contraindications to treatment with a group of penicillins. First, the presence of hypersensitivity to the drug and its derivatives. Secondly, the established diagnosis of epilepsy, which does not allow the introduction of the drug inside the spinal column. As for pregnancy and lactation, in this case, the expected benefit should significantly exceed the possible risks, because the placental barrier is permeable to penicillins. At the time of taking the medicine, the child should be temporarily transferred to another way of feeding, as the drug penetrates into the milk.

Side effects can be observed immediately on several levels.

From the side of the central nervous system, nausea, vomiting, excitability, meningism, convulsions and even coma are possible. Allergic reactions are manifested in the form of skin rashes, fever, joint pain and swelling. There are cases of anaphylactic shock and death. Because of the bactericidal effect, candidiasis of the vagina and oral cavity, as well as dysbiosis, is possible.

Features of use

Caution should be given to patients with impaired liver and kidney function, with established heart failure. Do not recommend to use them to people prone to allergic reactions, as well as those who have increased sensitivity to cephalosporins.

If five days after the start of therapy, no changes in the patient's condition have occurred, then it is necessary to use penicillin analogues or replace a group of antibiotics. Simultaneously with the appointment, for example, of the substance "Bicillin-3", care must be taken to prevent fungal superinfection. To do this, antifungal drugs are prescribed.

It is necessary to explain to the patient that the interruption of medication without good causes causes the resistance of microorganisms. And to overcome it will need stronger drugs that cause severe side effects.

Penicillin analogues have become irreplaceable in modern medicine. Although it is the earliest open group of antibiotics, it still remains relevant for the treatment of meningitis, gonorrhea and syphilis, has a fairly broad spectrum of action and mild side effects so that it can be prescribed to children. Of course, like any drug, penicillins have contraindications and side effects, but they are more than compensated for by the possibilities for use.