phenoxymethylpenicillin

Phenoxymethylpenicillin is a narrow-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic of the penicillins class. It is also known as penicillin V or penicillin VK. Phenoxymethylpenicillin acts by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis through binding to and inactivating specific membrane-bound proteins known as penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), which are involved in the final stages of peptidoglycan synthesis for bacterial cell walls. This leads to cell lysis and death in susceptible bacteria. It is primarily used for the treatment of mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible Gram-positive organisms such as *Streptococcus pyogenes* (including strep throat and skin infections), *Pneumococcus* (respiratory tract infections), and some *Staphylococcus* species that do not produce beta-lactamase. It is also used prophylactically to prevent rheumatic fever recurrence and certain infections in people with sickle cell disease or after splenectomy[1][2][3][5][8]. Phenoxymethylpenicillin is more acid-stable than benzylpenicillin (pen G) and can be administered orally[8].

Brand names

OspenPancillinPenbenePenHEXALPeni OralPenicillin V AbZPenicillin V acisPenicillin V ALPenicillin V CCPCPenicillin V duraPenicillin V HeumannPenicillin V Potassium

Other names

phenoxymethylpenicillin potassium