penicillin

(pen″ĭ-sil′ĭn)

To hear audio pronunciation of this topic, purchase a subscription or log in.

[Penicillium + -in]
Any of a group of antibiotics biosynthesized by several species of molds, esp. Penicillium notatum and P. chrysogenum. Penicillin is bactericidal, inhibiting the growth of some gram-positive bacteria and some spirochetes by interfering with cell wall synthesis. There are many different penicillins, including synthetic ones, and their effectiveness varies for different organisms.
SEE: penicillin allergy

There's more to see -- the rest of this topic is available only to subscribers.