Penicillin

Contact allergens

Penicillins can induce contact dermatitis, contact urticaria, and systemic and sometimes severe reactions. Occupational sensitivity to penicillins concerns health workers, workers in the pharmaceutical industry, and veterinaries, since these antibiotics are used by veterinarians and cattle breeders as medications and animal feed antibiotic. All penicillins contain the 6-aminopenicillanic acid moiety. Penicillins of G, V, A, and M groups are characterized by a specific C7 side chain. Cross-reactivity is possible between several penicillins, but is not systematic since both immediateand delayed-type sensitivity can implicate the 6-aminopenicillanic acid moiety, or be specific to the 7-side-chain.

Safety Profile

Poison by intraperitoneal and subcutaneous routes. Moderately toxic by intravenous route. Human reproductive effects by ingestion: abortion. Human systemic effects by intramuscular route: dermatitis. Experimental reproductive effects. Has been implicated in aplastic anemia. When heated to decomposition it emits very toxic fumes of NOx and SOx