Methicillin - Antibiotic Uses and Side Effects

Methicillin is a type of antibiotic that belongs to the class of penicillins. It is primarily used in the treatment of certain bacterial infections.
Category
Antibiotic
Where to get
Available by prescription for specific bacterial infections.
Applicable for
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Methicillin FAQ


Image credit: acs.org

When was methicillin invented?

Methicillin was developed by Beecham in 1959. It was previously used to treat infections caused by susceptible gram-positive bacteria, in particular, penicillinase -producing organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus that would otherwise be resistant to most penicillins.

What is methicillin used for?

Methicillin, antibiotic formerly used in the treatment of bacterial infections caused by organisms of the genus Staphylococcus. Methicillin is a semisynthetic derivative of penicillin. It was first produced in the late 1950s and was developed as a type of antibiotic called a penicillinase-resistant

What is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection?

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is caused by a type of staph bacteria that's become resistant to many of the antibiotics used to treat ordinary staph infections.

How does methicillin kill bacteria?

Methicillin was suspected to exert its bacteria -killing actions by inhibiting bacterial cell-wall synthesis, a mechanism of action similar to that of other penicillins. Methicillin was active against certain species of Staphylococcus, including S. aureus and S. epidermis.

Methicillin References

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