Kills bacteria sensitive to penicillin — stops cell wall from growing
Different germs need different antibiotics. If not sure which one to use — check with
doctor
Side effects
Pain at injection site with benzathine benzylpenicillin
Diarrhoea
Nausea
Rash
Anaphylaxis — severe allergic reaction
Warnings
About 1 in 10 people are allergic to penicillin
Consider allergy if rash
Anaphylaxis is rare — but consider if trouble breathing
Rash
Kidney trouble
Tell the patient
Rheumatic fever needs regular long-term treatment with benzathine benzylpenicillin
to prevent heart damage or stop it getting worse. Doctor will tell you when you can
stop
Take all the medicine — makes sure all the germs are gone and the infection doesn't
come back
Take on empty stomach
(dicloxacillin, flucloxacillin, phenoxymethylpenicillin)
Store in fridge
(not freezer)
If any left after 2 weeks — return it to clinic
Finish medicine
— even if you feel better
Warning stickers:
Medicine mixtures 6, 7a
Dicloxacillin, flucloxacillin, phenoxymethylpenicillin 3a or 3b
Amoxicillin + clavulanic acid 13, F
Check
Must have anaphylaxis kit with adrenaline (epinephrine) ready when giving penicillin by injection
Follow-up when antibiotic treatment finished to make sure infection is gone. If not
— medical consult
Making mixture
Make sure right amount of clean water added to dry powder
Blood test
if using for more than 10 days at a high dose — kidney function (UEC), liver function
tests (LFT), FBC
