Im a 3rd year medical student, and I just read about meningococcal meningitis, the massive textbook Im using (which is up to date) said primary treatment should be with benzylpenicillin and if they have an allergy, cefotaxime should be used. Im wondering why benzylpenicillin is used to terat an infection caused by a gram negative bacteria...? I thought penicillins only had action against gram positive organisms???
Hi, Thanks for posting in Chat Doctor. Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial infection that results in swelling and inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Currently, a third-generation cephalosporin (ceftriaxone or cefuroxime) is the Chat Doctor.  Penicillin G, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, fluoroquinolone and aztreonam are alternatives therapies. Benzyl penicillin (Penicillin G) is narrow spectrum antibiotic used to treat infections caused by susceptible bacteria. Penicillin G is considered the