Cloxacillin

Cloxacillin is a penicillin-class antibiotic that resists many staphylococcal penicillinases and treats infections caused by susceptible bacteria.

Beta-lactam antibiotics: A family of antibiotics whose shared beta-lactam ring disrupts bacterial cell-wall synthesis. Cloxacillin belongs to this family and acts through its cell-wall-targeting chemistry.
Staphylococcus aureus: A bacterial species that can cause skin, bloodstream, bone, and other infections. Susceptible strains are a principal target of cloxacillin treatment.
Penicillin: A beta-lactam antibiotic originally isolated from Penicillium fungi and used against susceptible bacteria. Cloxacillin is a semisynthetic member of the penicillin family.
Methicillin: A penicillinase-resistant penicillin introduced to treat penicillin-resistant staphylococcal infections. Cloxacillin is a later related drug; methicillin now chiefly appears in resistance terminology and laboratory testing.
Penicillin-binding proteins: Bacterial enzymes that build and remodel peptidoglycan in the cell wall. Cloxacillin binds these enzymes, preventing the cross-linking needed for a stable cell wall.
Cellulitis: A bacterial infection of the deeper layers of skin and underlying tissue. Cloxacillin can treat cellulitis when susceptible staphylococci or streptococci are responsible.
Beta-lactam ring: A four-membered cyclic amide structure central to the activity of beta-lactam antibiotics. Cloxacillin’s antibacterial action depends on this ring remaining intact until it reaches its target.
Penicillin allergy: An immune-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to penicillin or related beta-lactam antibiotics. A history of serious penicillin allergy can rule out cloxacillin or require careful clinical assessment.
Beta-lactamase: An enzyme that inactivates beta-lactam antibiotics by opening their beta-lactam ring. Cloxacillin’s bulky side chain resists many staphylococcal forms of this enzyme.
Osteomyelitis: An infection of bone, usually caused by bacteria. Cloxacillin is used for bone infections caused by susceptible staphylococci.

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