Final answer:
The appropriate penicillin antibiotic for treating a respiratory infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is piperacillin/tazobactam.
Step-by-step explanation:
The appropriate penicillin antibiotic for treating a respiratory infection caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is piperacillin/tazobactam.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known to be resistant to many penicillin antibiotics due to its ability to produce an enzyme called beta-lactamase that inactivates these drugs. Piperacillin/tazobactam is a combination antibiotic that includes the beta-lactamase inhibitor tazobactam, making it effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Other examples of penicillin antibiotics that may sometimes be used to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections include ticarcillin/clavulanate and ceftazidime, which are also combined with beta-lactamase inhibitors.