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What bacteria does penicillin kill?

In: Medication and Drugs, Antibiotics, Penicillin [Edit categories]

Answer:

Penicillins, having been around so long, have undergone significant modifications, and their spectra has increased since its discovery (when it wasn't effective against Gram negative bacteria -- which has changed).

Some of the bacteria penicillins of today may successfully attack include:

Staphylococcus
Streptococcus
Gonorrhea
Menigitis
Endocarditis
Upper respiratory infections
Periodontal infections.
Syphilis
and others...

Penicillin is ineffective against mold/fungus attacks, and MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Other bacteria have also develoepd resistances.

First answer by Cjonb. Last edit by Cjonb. Contributor trust: 1199 [recommend contributor ]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question].

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Relevant answers:

Does penicillin kill bacteria infections?
Yes. That is the only thing we can kill off. We have no current ability to kill a virus.
How does penicillin kills some bacteria?
The penicillin family mainly prevent the formation of cell membranes by inhibiting the enzyme folic acid, thus not allowing the cell to form.
Does penicillin kill bacteria on gums?
Yes, penicillin is often prescribed for gum and tooth infections.
How does penicillin kill bacteria?
by interfering with bacterias ability to synthesize cell wall
Penicillin is an antibiotic that kills most bacteria. bacteria are cells. why then doesn't?
Because bacterial cells and human cells aren't the same. Penicillin works by interfering with how bacterial cell walls are built, and human cells don't have bacterial cell walls. (Turns out all...