PharmaAntibiotic Drugs That Have Been Identified Through X-Ray Diffraction

When it comes to helping people fight all sorts of health problems, then the use of antibiotic drugs is absolutely crucial. Simply put, they are a type of antimicrobial substance that can be used to fight against bacteria, whether in treatment or as a preventative measure. They should not be confused with anti-viral drugs, which fight against issues such as the flu or the common cold, as they are a very different prospect entirely.

How are they identified?

Did you know how their individual crystalline structures are identified, though? Broadly speaking, they have a unique structure that can be identified through an x-ray diffractometer as each antibiotic leaves its own trace. If you are interested in knowing which drugs have been identified in this way, you are in the right place, as this guide has been created to teach you absolutely everything you need to know. Read on now in order to learn all about it.

Penicillin G Procaine

Penicillin was first discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming and was first used to treat someone in 1930. It has been described as the most important drug discovery in modern times, having saved an estimated 200 million people across the world since it was first rolled out in 1942. Its chemical structure was discovered later in 1945 by Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin through the use of x-ray crystallography. Penicillin G Procaine has been used to treat a series of infections, including anthrax, mouth infections, pneumonia, diphtheria, syphilis, and many others. It is administered through injection.

Cefalexin

Listed on the WHO’s list of essential medicines, cefalexin, developed in 1967, is used to treat all number of infections, including, but not limited to:

• Middle ear infections
• Bone infections
• Skin infections
• Urinary tract infections
• Pneumonia
• Strep throat

It can also be used to prevent bacterial endocarditis. This antibiotic is usually prescribed to people who might have a mild or moderate allergic reaction to penicillin.

Cefotaxime

Cefotaxime is an injected antibiotic that was discovered in 1976 and started being commercially used in 1980, and is usually used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections, including joint pain, meningitis, gonorrhea, and cellulitis. It’s worth knowing about the side effects that can occur when taking this antibiotic, which can include pain and inflammation at the injection site, rash, fever, vomiting and nausea.

Doxycycline

Doxycycline, patented in 1957 before being used commercially in 1967, is considered to be a broad-spectrum antibiotic because of the different use cases that it has. It is used as a treatment against bacterial and other parasitical infections, including, but not limited to, acne, chlamydia, typhus, cholera, Lyme disease, and others. It’s also worth noting that it’s used against malaria when administered in conjunction with quinine. While it is not recommended to be used if you are pregnant, it is still a generic medicine, meaning that it’s pretty easy for you to get your hands on it. It is also considered to be an essential medicine by the World Health Organization.