Oxacillin
Encyclopedia
Oxacillin sodium is a narrow spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic
of the penicillin
class.
It was developed by Beecham
.
, and has replaced methicillin in clinical use. Another related compound is nafcillin. Since it is resistant to penicillinase enzymes, such as that produced by Staphylococcus aureus
, it is widely used clinically in the US to treat penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
. However, resistant strains called oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA/ORSA) are highly prevalent in the U.S. and the U.K.
Beta-lactam antibiotic
β-Lactam antibiotics are a broad class of antibiotics, consisting of all antibiotic agents that contains a β-lactam nucleus in its molecular structure. This includes penicillin derivatives , cephalosporins , monobactams, and carbapenems...
of the penicillin
Penicillin
Penicillin is a group of antibiotics derived from Penicillium fungi. They include penicillin G, procaine penicillin, benzathine penicillin, and penicillin V....
class.
It was developed by Beecham
Beecham (pharmaceutical company)
Beecham was a British pharmaceutical company. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. Beecham, after having merged with SmithKline Beckman, merged with GlaxoWellcome to become GlaxoSmithKline .-History:...
.
Uses
Oxacillin is a penicillinase-resistant β-lactam. It is similar to methicillinMethicillin
Meticillin or methicillin is a narrow-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic of the penicillin class. It should not be confused with the antibiotic metacycline.-History:Methicillin was developed by Beecham in 1959...
, and has replaced methicillin in clinical use. Another related compound is nafcillin. Since it is resistant to penicillinase enzymes, such as that produced by Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive coccal bacterium. It is frequently found as part of the normal skin flora on the skin and nasal passages. It is estimated that 20% of the human population are long-term carriers of S. aureus. S. aureus is the most common species of...
, it is widely used clinically in the US to treat penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive coccal bacterium. It is frequently found as part of the normal skin flora on the skin and nasal passages. It is estimated that 20% of the human population are long-term carriers of S. aureus. S. aureus is the most common species of...
. However, resistant strains called oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium responsible for several difficult-to-treat infections in humans. It is also called multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus...
(MRSA/ORSA) are highly prevalent in the U.S. and the U.K.