I understand that for Gram-negative bacteria, Penicillin and Vancomycin don’t work, but for Gram-positive, what makes it work better? Vancomycin sounds like it should be more effective, with its toxicity and "last resort" label.
Find all information on generic alternatives of prescription medicines.
Copyright © 2009
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I think you’re in my class, lol, I’m doing the same lab.
Long story short, Tetracycline does not attack the cell wall of the bacteria, it stops translation.
Toxicity aside, Vancocin (vancomycin) is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. It is only used orally to treat C. difficile colitis which is recurrent or resistant to Flagyl (metronidazole).
Some bacteria produce an enzyme called beta-lactamase. This enzyme inactivates Penicillins. Adding a beta-lactamase inhibitor, like clavulanic acid, prevents this inactivation.
Sumycin (tetracycline) is not effected by the beta-lactamases. It does, however, have some nasty side effects like sunburn (sun sensitivity), nail discoloration, muscle pain, difficult or painful swallowing, change in the amount of urine and brown/gray tooth discoloration.