Nafcillin is a penicillin derivative antibiotic used to treat susceptible staphylococcal and streptococcal infections. Like other penicillins, nafcillin exerts a bactericidal action against penicillin-susceptible microorganisms during the state of active multiplication in the bacterial cell wall synthesis. It inhibits the biosynthesis of the bacterial cell wall by forming covalent bonds with penicillin-binding proteins that play a critical role in the final transpeptidation process. Binding to penicillin-binding proteins inhibits the transpeptidase and carboxypeptidase activities conferred by these proteins and prevents the formation of the crosslinks.

Nafcillin Pathway References