Phenoxymethylpenicillin

Phenoxymethylpenicillin, or penicillin V, is an acid-stable, narrow-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotic taken mainly by mouth to treat infections caused by susceptible bacteria.

Penicillin-binding proteins: Bacterial enzymes that build and remodel peptidoglycan in the cell wall. Penicillin V binds these enzymes, disrupting cell-wall construction.
Streptococcal pharyngitis: A throat infection caused most often by group A Streptococcus. Penicillin V is a standard oral treatment when the cause is susceptible group A Streptococcus.
Penicillin G: An injectable natural penicillin used against susceptible bacteria, including some serious infections. Unlike penicillin V, penicillin G is acid-labile and is generally given parenterally.
Antibiotic: A substance used to kill bacteria or inhibit their growth. Penicillin V is a drug in this broader class.
Penicillin: A group of beta-lactam antibiotics originally derived from Penicillium fungi. Penicillin V is a natural penicillin within this drug family.
Peptidoglycan: A mesh-like polymer that gives bacterial cell walls strength and shape. Blocking its cross-linking weakens growing bacteria until they lyse.
Erysipelas: A superficial skin infection involving the upper dermis and lymphatic vessels, usually caused by streptococci. Oral penicillin V can treat susceptible cases after clinical assessment.
Amoxicillin: An orally absorbed aminopenicillin with broader activity than natural penicillins. Amoxicillin covers some organisms outside penicillin V's relatively narrow spectrum.
Antimicrobial spectrum: The range of microorganisms against which an antimicrobial drug is active. Penicillin V's spectrum is concentrated on susceptible Gram-positive bacteria and selected other organisms.
Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin: A British chemist who determined molecular structures using X-ray crystallography. Her structural work established penicillin's molecular architecture, including its beta-lactam core.

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BenzylpenicillinCompared with: Unlike benzylpenicillin, it survives stomach acid well enough for reliable oral use.