Gram stain: Difference between revisions
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imported>David E. Volk m (subpages) |
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz (Mechanism and antibiotic coverage) |
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Gram-positive bacteria are those that are stained dark blue or violet by Gram staining. | Gram-positive bacteria are those that are stained dark blue or violet by the [[Gram stain|staining]]. Organisms that are Gram-positive have cell walls containing multiple layers of [[peptidoglycan]] bound together by [[amino acid]] bridges. | ||
Especially when [[antibiotic]]s were new, a given antibiotic, such as [[penicillin]] , of the [[beta-lactam]] class, tended to attack only Gram-positive bacteria. Other classes, such as [[streptomycin]], a member of the [[aminoglycoside]] class, tended to attack Gram-negative bacteria. [[Broad-spectrum]] antibiotics attack both Gram positive and negative bacteria. | |||
Revision as of 18:04, 24 June 2008
Gram-positive bacteria are those that are stained dark blue or violet by the staining. Organisms that are Gram-positive have cell walls containing multiple layers of peptidoglycan bound together by amino acid bridges.
Especially when antibiotics were new, a given antibiotic, such as penicillin , of the beta-lactam class, tended to attack only Gram-positive bacteria. Other classes, such as streptomycin, a member of the aminoglycoside class, tended to attack Gram-negative bacteria. Broad-spectrum antibiotics attack both Gram positive and negative bacteria.