if the causal agent of tetanus is susceptible to penicillin, why will penillin not cure tetanus?
341856
Because tetanus is a poisoning, not an infection.  The micro-organisms create a toxin that sticks around long after they are dead.  The toxin causes the symptoms.  Penicillin kills the mico-organism but does nothing for the toxin.  Treatments for tetanus involve antibodies that bind to the toxin inside your body and neutralize them.
558098
Adverse drug reactions\nCommon adverse drug reactions (ADRs) for the penicillins include: diarrhea, nausea, rash, urticaria, superinfection (including candidiasis). (Rossi, 2004)\n\nInfrequent ADRs include: fever, vomiting, erythema, dermatitis, angioedema, pseudomembranous colitis. (Rossi, 2004)\n\nPain and inflammation at the injection site is also common for parenterally-administered benzathine penicillin, benzylpenicillin, and to a lesser extent procaine penicillin.\n\nAllergy/hypersensitivity\nAllergic reactions to any β-lactam antibiotic may occur in up to 10% of patients receiving that agent. Anaphylaxis will occur in approximately 0.01% of patients. (Rossi, 2004) There is perhaps a 5-10% cross-sensitivity between penicillin-derivatives, cephalosporins and carbapenems; but this figure has been challenged by various investigators.\n\nNevertheless, the risk of cross-reactivity is sufficient to warrant the contraindication of all β-lactam antibiotics in patients with a history of severe allergic reactions (urticaria, anaphylaxis, interstitial nephritis) to any β-lactam antibiotic.\n\nHope I helped! ;)\nxxx
529501
Go to this Web Site. www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/tetanus.pdf
553054
When you friend had pharyngitis first, the doc administered penicillin. Over time however the bacteria got 'resistant' to penicillin (most probably because either she took too much of it or did not take the penicillin on time/at regular intervals like she should have) meaning that it now has a new gene that prevents it from being affected by penicillin - thats the prob with antibiotics - on long term use most bacteria get resistant. \n\nSo now the remedy is use a stronger antibiotic that would work against the bacterial infection. Ask the doc to prescribe a stronger antibiotic, however if it is not taken regulalry, the bacteria can become antibiotic tolerant.
1167386
Rust from a metal object does NOT cause tetanus.  A bacteria named Clostridium Tetani produces a toxin that causes tetanus.  C. Tetani can grow in many environments and is abundant in soil.  Assuming you've had a tetanus vaccine within the past 10 years, you'll be fine.  \n\nMost infections from cuts are caused by Staphylococcus Epidermidus, Staphylococcus Aureus, Streptococcus Pyogenes and many other bacteria that are on your skin.  Washing a cut throughly with soap and water immediately after an injury is important.  An antiseptic such as isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, iodine, or antibiotics creams such as neosporin should be applied to the wound.  A bandage helps keep debris out of the wound.  If you notice an infection developing, go see a doctor immediately.  Signs of infection may include swelling and redness around the site of infection, fever, etc.  This condition is life-threatening.\n\nDo you have diabetes?  Diabetics tend to have a decreased immune response and are prone to infections.  Good glycemic (blood sugar) control can reduce this.
174791
Alexander Fleming.  Folklore has it that he was a lazy scientist who failed to clean/wash his Petrie dishes.  On his return from a weekend, he found that a mould had formed on some of the dishes and that it had killed the germs close to it.   Thus, penicillin was discovered.
353587
Before I start-penicillin is an antibiotic which kills bacteria, not viruses...it has no effect on viruses- In addition, penicillin is no longer widely used because there are so many resistant strains of bacteria, and is not used in general for respiratory infections.  A flu shot is taken to keep you from getting flu, since it aids the immune system in recognizing the influenza virus.\nOnce the body recognizes the virus, it produces anibodies, both circulating and on the surface of certain immune cells- Quickly, the antibodies will begin to stick to the viruses, often deactivating them-other immune cells come in, absorb the virus is a special way so that the virus is rendered harmless, and packaged into internal capsules called "lysosomes" which contain some very nasty molecules that destroy the virus itself.
200747
Tetanus can be deadly. No joke. Go to the emergency department to get evaluated. Now. ESPECIALLY if you can't recall the last time you had a tetanus booster. Not trying to scare you, I just don't want you to blow it off, or just put a "band-aid" on it. \n\nhttp://www.cdc.gov/nip/publications/pink/tetanus.pdf\n\nDon't even wait to read the link. It's a PDF file, print it out and read it ON YOUR WAY to the Emergency Dept.
699580
Sorry to hear about the pain. It happens to most people with the tetanus shot.\nIt will go away in a few days.\n\nI'm sorry I couldn't get this message to you earlier.\n\nDo NOT get vaccinated.\n\nA vaccinated person is MORE likely to get a disease than  a non-vaccinated person. The whole theory of vaccination is flawed. It causes a weakening of the immune system thus making those who are innoculated more susceptible to disease.\nThere are so many awful side effects to vaccination that it should be considered extremely dangerous.\nJust sit back and think for a while.\nIs there any sense in injecting a disease directly into your body.\nWe have been subjected to an awful mind control program to enable the drug manufacturers to make a fortune.\n\nThe Vaccination Hoax\nhttp://www.whale.to/b/hoax1.html\n\n\nIf you go to the vaccination liberation web page, at\nhttp://www.vaclib.org/exemption.htm\nYou will find all the forms necessary to provide exemption for your child.\n\nIf you want to study the history of vaccination, see\nhttp://dgwa1.fortunecity.com/body/vaccination.html
967690
Penicillin- lead to the discovery of various other antibiotics.  Even though antibiotic resistance is becoming a problem, antibiotics have saved so many lives.
243815
The penicillins are beta lectam antibiotics.  They work by preventing bacteria from producing cell walls by blocking the transpeptidation reaction. The reaction cross links glycan linked peptide chains, and without these, the cell wall is no longer stong enough. Also they stimulate the release of bacterial enzymes called autolysins which degrade the cell wall.\n\nPenicillins act on gram positive bacteria, and some modern synthetic penicillins are able to penetrate the capsule and act on gram negative.\n\nTaking this into account, i would say thats as a group they are broad spectrum because they act on most gram positive indescrimenantly and some gram negative. However, individually, some in the group may be considered narrow because they only act on a small group.\n\nI hope that helps
579789
I think you actually mean tetrodotoxin.  It's a neurotoxin that binds the pores of sodium channels, thus inhibiting potentiaion.  If the toxin is ingested (usually happens by accidental ingestion of certain fish) it can cause paralysis of the individual's diaphragm followed by death due to respiratory failure (i.e. you suffocate).
578900
First, why it can be bad. Antibiotics are substances that kill bacteria; penecillin is one of the most famous. They help the body by killing bacteria that are causing an infection. But they don't work against viruses. Sometimes it's hard to tell if a virus or bacteria is causing an illness. Bacteria can become immune to antibiotics, just like people can develop a tolerance to medicines and they don't work like they should. When bacteria become immune to an antibiotic, that means that the antibiotic won't be effective at killing that strain of bacteria. So the next person who needs an antibiotic for that strain of bacteria needs a different (and usually stronger) antibiotic. If bacteria get immune to enough antibiotics, they can cause serious outbreaks that people won't be able to deal with. But there's sort-of good news: there are many strains of bacteria out there. Although that means many chances of infection, it also means that people will get different strains (and different strains mean different medicines and different susceptibilities to antibiotics). If a bacteria strain is immune to some of the strongest antibiotics available, then it would be a super-bacteria, causing potentially millions of deaths world-wide.\n\nDoctors prescribe antibotics for a number of reasons. A lot of people don't feel like their doctor visit was worthwhile unless they get a prescription to help them feel better. Sometimes it's hard to tell if a virus or a bacteria is causing the problem. Sometimes doctors prescribe antibiotics for virus illnesses because they think that it will help kill any bacteria in the body, so the immune system can focus on the virus infection.
906843
It will aid clotting but it will kill you because it will likely contain Tetanus spores....;
479160
Your question confuses me.\n\nAfter awhile, some species can become immune to pesticides, and therefore cause them to be uneffective, just like if you take too much medicine too often, bacteria can become immune to it and it will not help you get better.
749254
take them, and try to do it according to the original schedule. you should take the whole course because if you don't, all you do is make the germ, whatever it may be, resistant to the drug you're taking, and when it comes back, you'll have to get something else to cure it. This is why they only give penicillin for strep throat now, everything else has become resistant to it coz of people only taking part of their anitbiotics
644287
No, and sorry for the person above me who believes it possible. Mouthwash, instead of attacking a bacteria's reprodutive abilities (like antibodies),  actually demolishes a bacteria's protien coat. This eradicates the prokayroyte entirely, with no hope for immunity.