The activity of furazlocillin (Bay k 4999) was compared with those of mezlocillin, piperacillin, and standard beta-lactam antibiotics against a number of gram-positive and gram-negative organisms. These new expanded-spectrum penicillins were less active than penicillin G against most gram-positive organisms. Furazlocillin, mezlocillin, and piperacillin showed activity comparable to ampicillin and penicillin G against Haemophilus influenzae and penicillin-susceptible neisseriae, respectively. None of the drugs tested was effective against penicillin-resistant gonococci. The activity of furazlocillin was greater than that of mezlocillin, piperacillin, ampicillin, or carbenicillin against many Enterobacteriaceae. However, certain beta-lactam-resistant strains among these organisms were not highly susceptible to any of the three new penicillins. Furazlocillin was less active than piperacillin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa but was more active than carbenicillin or mezlocillin. Inoculum effects and discrepancies between minimal inhibitory concentrations and minimal bactericidal concentrations were observed with furazlocillin, mezlocillin, and piperacillin against several genera. The kinetics of bacterial killing by the new penicillins were often slow and incomplete over 24 h, especially in tests with Enterobacter and P. aeruginosa. Synergy was demonstrated between furazlocillin and aminoglycosides against a variety of gram-negative bacilli and Streptococcus faecalis.