6a – Beta-Lactams Flashcards
Beta-lactams structure
- All have beta-lactam ring
- *bacteria ‘break the ring’ to have resistance
- Side chain R: bacteria can ‘break’ them off
What are the different Penicillin G (benzyl penicillin) formulations in vet med? (short and long acting)
- Short acting
o Crystalline penicillin G (Na+ or K+)
o Procaine penicillin G - Long acting
o Benzathine penicillin G
o Procaine penicillin G in oil
Crystalline penicillin G
- Sterile formulations added to sterile saline or lactated ringer for injection (human drugs)
- Soluble powder for drinking water (vet drugs) (NON-sterile drinking water)
- **IV
Procaine penicillin G
- ‘white’ injectable penicillin
- *daily injections
- Oral feed premixes
- *for IM or (SC) injection only
- *procaine slows penicillin absorption
- BAD if IV!
Procaine penicillin G in oil
- Long acting
- *IM or SC injection
Procaine + Benzathine penicillin G
- Long acting in injectable penicillin
- *IM or SC injection only
Penicillin V vs. penicillin G
- Penicillin V is acid stable=can give orally
What are the penicillin G mechanisms of action?
- Inhibit the PENICILLIN BINDING PROTEINS found outside of bacterial cell membrane
- Interferes with enzymes (transpeptidase) needed for peptidoglycan synthesis
- *causes lysis of growing bacterial cells
Penicillin G disrupts synthesis of bacterial cell wall: gram +
- Lots of peptidoglycan in cell wall
- High affinity of PBPS for beta-lactams
- *susceptible to penicillin
Penicillin G disrupts synthesis of bacterial cell wall: gram –
- Less peptidoglycan
- Lower affinity of PBPs for beta-lactams
- *not susceptible to penicillin=harder to get through
What are 2 possible resistance mechanisms to penicillin G?
- **Penicillinase or beta-lactamase enzymes
o Exogenous producers (ex. Staph Aureus)
o Endogenous producers (ex. between cell membrane and cell wall in gram-negatives) - Inability of beta-lactam to penetrate bacterial cell wall (ex. gram negative bacteria: ‘tougher’ cell wall)
- *if PBP change=will not be able to bind=really rapid resistance
Staph aureus (and many Staphs.) and penicillin
- Not susceptible
- Exogenous beta-lactamase (penicillinase) producer
- *penicillin doesn’t even make it to the cell wall
- Ex. maybe try and cephalosporin (can’t be broken down by penicillinase)
Beta-lactamases can be
- Inherent (constitutive chromosomal expression)
- Transferable (plasmid-mediated)
MIC values to determine if it works
*if low MIC value=likely going to work for that bacterial species
Penicillin G spectrum of activity: bacteria that is typically susceptible
- Many gram positives
o Actinomyces spp.
o T. pyogenes
o Some B. anthracis, Corynebacterium, Erysipelothrix r., Listeria - Some gram negative (some Histophilus and Pasteurella)
- Many anaerobes (ex. Fusobacterium, some Clostridium)
Penicillin G spectrum of activity: bacteria that is typically resistant
- Most Staph spp. (produce beta-lactamase)
- Most gram negative
o Produce beta-lactamase
o Can’t penetrate cell wall
o Low affinity PBP
Penicillin G absorption: oral
- Poor due to RAPID HYDROLYSIS in stomach acid
- (Exception: penicillin V=acid-stable)
- **what about the feed premix or drinking water formulations: getting in locally but not much systemically (not going for plasma concentrations)
Penicillin absorption: parenteral for crystalline pen G
- Only dosage form that can be IV
- (Rapid absorption after IM or SC injection)
*Penicillin absorption: parenteral for procaine pen G
- Procaine salt more SLOWLY ABOSORBED from IM injection site than crystalline forms
- Results in LOWER but more SUSTAINED, PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS
- **Injections in necks absorbed more rapidly and consistent than in hindquarters (LESS CARCASS DAMAGE)
- **NEVER USE FOR IV INJECTION (if milky=do not give IV)
Penicillin absorption: parenteral for benzathine pen G
- Benzathine salt is poorly soluble=very SLOWLY absorbed
- Produces SUSTAINED (**but often sub-therapeutic) Pen G plasma concentrations
o Can’t reach MIC
o Sits there forever=long residues in milk or meat
Penicillin G distribution
- Weak acid (pKa=2.7)
- *highly ionized at physiological pH (7.4) in plasma