An Ode to Antibiotics

By: Yasindri Jayawardena

Sir Alexander Flemming was an absent-minded guy;

but his carelessness was a gift to mankind.

While some may argue about the evils of antibiotics,

all I know is that his discovery of penicillin,

has my work cut out for me!

From beta-lactams to aminoglycosides,

from spectrum of activity to mode of action,

from resistance to side effects,

from dosage to mode of administration,

there is much to remember when it comes to antibiotics!

Whether you’re a gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria:

Staphylococcus, streptococcus, pseudomonas or clostridium,

there isn’t a penicillin that hasn’t got you covered.

Some of you enterococci, pneumococci and staphylococcus aureus,

may think you’re smart by developing resistance to penicillin.

But have you forgotten penicillin’s rich cousin glycopeptide?

Chlamydia, mycoplasma and rhiketssia species,

the sunflowers in a world full of roses; the atypical bacteria.

You’re not forgotten either, we are giving you a dose of macrolides.

Beware gram negative and positive bacteria,

sulphomethoxozole and trimethoprim’s double act,

is enough to annihilate you!

Last but not the least is chloramphenicol the one feared by all!

While bacteria take cover at the sight of antibiotics,

Virus’s look on smilingly,

Because there isn’t an antibiotic which can touch them!

Yasindri Jayawardena is a 3rd Year Medical Student from Sri Lanka. She blogs about life, inspiration, poetry, med school, and everything nice at https://aspoonfulofdri.wordpress.com!

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