Question

Which statement about penicillins is INCORRECT?

1) Penicillins + β-lactamase inhibitor is a combination of agents that protects the penicillin against enzymatic digestion.
2) Broad-spectrum penicillins are active against penicillin-sensitive Gram-positive bacteria and also many Gram-negative bacteria.
3) Some S. aureus strains have the ability to make altered penicillin binding proteins to which most β-lactam antibiotics do not bind as well.
4) The penicillins produced naturally by the mold P. chrysogenum are broad-spectrum, effective against all Gram-positive and many Gram-negative bacteria.
5) Bacteria that produce penicillinase are resistant to the natural penicillins.

Answer 1

The incorrect statement about penicillins is that naturally produced penicillins are broad-spectrum, as they primarily target gram-positive bacteria, not all Gram-positive and many Gram-negative bacteria.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement about penicillins that is incorrect is 4) The penicillins produced naturally by the mold P. chrysogenum are broad-spectrum, effective against all Gram-positive and many Gram-negative bacteria.

Natural penicillins like penicillin G and penicillin V are primarily active against gram-positive bacteria and only a few gram-negative bacteria. By contrast, semisynthetic modifications of penicillins have allowed for broad-spectrum activity against a wider range of gram-negative bacteria.