Find patient medical information for Penicillin on WebMD including its uses, side effects and safety, interactions, pictures, warnings, and user ratings Penicillin is a widely used and effective type of antibiotic medicine. Read more about safety, side effects and signs of allergy to penicillin. Glass vial of British Standard penicillin The history of penicillin traces how observations of antibiotic activity in the mould Penicillium led to the development of penicillins, a family of widely used antibiotics. Ancient societies used moulds to treat infections, and many people observed the inhibition of bacterial growth by moulds. Penicillin is a group of antibiotics (medications used to treat bacterial infections) that work in a specific way to destroy bacteria in your body. Types of penicillin and drugs closely related to them are called “penicillins.” They’re a subclass of beta-lactam antibiotics. Penicillin V is used to treat infections caused by bacteria, such as ear infections. Includes penicillin side effects, interactions and indications. Penicillin is a group of common antibiotics (penicillins), [1] made to treat bacterial infections. It was one of the first antibiotics to be discovered, and worked well against staphylococci and streptococci. Penicillin, antibiotic derived from Penicillium mold, one of the first antibiotics to be discovered. Penicillins are a type of antibiotic derived from Penicillium fungi. An antibiotic is a type of medicine that inhibits the growth of, or kills, bacteria. Penicillins may be used to treat a wide range of infections caused by susceptible bacteria. Penicillin, the first widely used antibiotic, effectively treats bacterial infections like pneumonia and strep throat. However, its effectiveness can be reduced due to bacterial resistance, and it is crucial to inform your doctor if you are allergic. Penicillin G (benzylpenicillin) was first produced from a penicillium fungus that occurs in nature. The strain of fungus used today for the manufacture of penicillin G was created by genetic engineering to improve the yield in the manufacturing process. None of the other natural penicillins (F, K, N, X, O, U1 or U6) are currently in clinical use.