Penicillin was the first antibiotic discovered( by Alexander Fleming) in 1929. It is a narrow-spectrum antibiotic. Ampicillin and amoxicillin are semisynthetic Illodifications of penicillin.
Penicillin is not suitable to all persons and some Personsare allergic to it. Consequently, it is essential to test the patients for sensitivity( or allergy) to penicillin, before it is administered.
In India, penicillin is manufactured at Pimpri and Rishikesh( Uttarakhand).
Broad-spectrum antibiotics also called antibiotics, are antibiotics which are effective against different types of harmful microorganisms. e. g., Tetracycline, chloramphenicoltgiven in case of typhoid, dysentery, fever ofloxacin, etc.
2. Antiseptics
These are the chemicals which either kill or prevent the growth microorganisms. Antiseptics are applied to the living tissues such wounds, cuts, ulcers and skin diseases in the form of antiseptic creams like furacin and soframycin. e. g., Some important examples of antiseptics are
( i) Dettol is a mixture of chloroxylenol and terpineol.
( ii) Bithional is added to soaps to impart antiseptic properties to reduce the odours produced by bacterial organic matter on the skin.