Penicillins, Aminoglycosides: Penicillin, Probenecid, Penicillin V, Methicillin, Oxacillin, Cloxacillin, Dicloxacillin, Ampicillin, Strep, Spirochetes, Staphylococcus Aureus, Listeria Monocytogenes, Helicobacter Pylori, Enterococcus, Salmonella, Shigella, Proteus mnemonic

Penicillins [pens]

Target cell wall synthesis
Antibiotic resistance due to beta-lactamases that cleave the penicillin beta-lactam ring
Effective against strep [strip of cocci] and spirochetes (e.g. syphilis) [spiral]
Excreted by kidneys [kidneys on the sides of the pen]
- Probenecid slows down the excretion of penicillin [probe interrupts flow of urine]
Does not cross the blood-brain barrier [pen bends when attempting to cross the thick barrier], but can be injected intrathecally. Seizures can result if injected intrathecally [thrashing spinal cord after pen injection]
Synergistic effect with aminoglycosides [a mine & sugar cube on the side]
Penicillin has many derivatives:
- Penicillin V - administered orally [V-shaped mouth on pacman]
- Beta-lactamase resistant penicillins [shield the pen from hungry cleaving lactamases]
  - Effective in treatment of Staphylococcus aureus [golden grapes], since strains usually produce beta-lactamases
  - Methicillin [CH3 shield]
  - Oxacillin [ox shield]
  - Cloxacillin [clock shield]
  - Dicloxacillin [2 clocks shield]
Ampicillin [amplifier pen (triangle with +/- is the electrical symbol for amplifier)]
- Effective against:
  - Listeria monocytogenes [Listerine] ampicillin is the agent of choice, but can also be treated with penicillin
  - Helicobacter pylori [red (gram (-) helicopter]
  - Enterococcus [entering coccus]
  - Salmonella [salmon]
  - Shigella [shagging ella]
  - Proteus [pee rot us skeleton]
- Contraindicated with monobactams [mono (v.s. stereo) gramophone]
  - Causes rash [red brush]
- Not resistant to beta-lactamases [ beta-lactamase biting through the amplifier pen]

Visual Mnemonic - Penicillins, Aminoglycosides: Penicillin, Probenecid, Penicillin V, Methicillin, Oxacillin, Cloxacillin, Dicloxacillin, Ampicillin, Strep, Spirochetes, Staphylococcus Aureus, Listeria Monocytogenes, Helicobacter Pylori, Enterococcus, Salmonella, Shigella, Proteus
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