In the 1960s, a limited range of non β‐lactam antibacterials was
available; most had certain limitations in terms of toxicity e.g.
sulphonamides (rashes and renal toxicity); streptomycin and
kanamycin (ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity); chloramphenicol (bone
marrow aplasia); erythromycin (gastrointestinal side effects);
tetracyclines (concentrate in developing bones and teeth) and
colistin (neuro and nephro‐toxicity). A number of beta‐lactams,
penicillins: penicillin G and V (gastric acid labile), ampicillin,
methicillin (nephrotoxicity) and also cephalosporins: cephaloridine
and cephalothin (nephrotoxicity) were reported. All of these agents
were generally given as a four times daily dose and were associated
with rashes and, rarely, anaphylaxis