Within this assignment, the author will be discussing about a medical drug named
flucloxacillin; the author will be discussing what flucloxacillin contains, what it is, the
molecular formula and weight, common and serious side effects and what it is known
by. The author will then go on to describe how bacteria can become resistant to
antibiotics and different type of resistant strains.
Flucloxacillin is a branch off group that belongs to a group of antibodies known
penicillin. It has the molecular formula of C 19H17CIFN2O1S and it has a molecular
weight of 453.869 g/mol (Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 2018).
The way that this medical antibiotic works is by intercepting with the bacteria’s ability
to start forming cell walls. The cell wall is essential for the survival of the bacteria;
this is due to it keeping out unwanted foreign bodies from entering their cells and
stopping cells from seeping out. The way that flucloxacillin works against bacteria is
the way that flucloxacillin will block the bonds that keep the bacteria’s cell wall intact,
effectively; this will cause a great amount of holes to appear within the cell wall which
will end the life of the bacteria (Netdoctor, 2018).
Flucloxacillin is an antibiotic that is often prescribed to children. If children are
prescribed this prescription of this antibody then it is usually to treat ear or chest
infections. In medical practice, doctors can often take tissue samples or swabs from
the infected area to ensure that flucloxacillin is needed to complete treatment. The
medicine is available only for prescription use (NHS.UK, 2018). This medicine can
come in two different forms: capsules or as a liquid. If this is given in a hospital, this
can be done via injection. There are two different types of dosages that are
commonly given: 250mg and 500mg; these should be taken 4 times a day and
spread out equally. Furthermore, this antibiotic should be taken on an empty
stomach; this is because the human body will absorb less of this medicine after a
meal, effectively making this less effective. (Patient.info, 2018)
Flucloxacillin differentiates itself from penicillin, this is because bacteria can become
resistant to penicillin antibiotics as they can produce an enzyme named penicillinase;
penicillinase causes the breakdown of the antibody and will make this medicine less
effective of eradicating the bacteria. Therefore, using flucloxacillin instead of
penicillin will stop the antibody becoming impacted by the enzyme. Flucloxacillin is
often prescribed to treat infections that are caused by bacteria that are resistant to
Page 1 of 3
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller ItsTezzersAssignments. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £3.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.