CLASSIFICATION OF ANTIBIOTICS

Antibiotics

Any substance that kill or inhibit the growth of other pathogenic microorganisms. For example, penicillin, cephalosporin etc.

Some antibiotics are produced from microorganisms, but most are now manufacture synthetically.

Antibiotics are classified by three ways

1.         On the basis of mechanism of action
2.         On the basis of spectrum of activity
3.         On the basis of mode of action

On The Basis Of Mechanism Of Action

• ·       Cell Wall Synthesis inhibitors
• ·       Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
• ·       DNA Synthesis Inhibitors
• ·       RNA synthesis Inhibitors
• ·       Mycolic Acid synthesis inhibitors
• ·       Folic Acid synthesis inhibitors

Cell wall synthesis inhibitors

•     Penicillins
•     Cephalosporins
•     Vancomycin
•     Beta-lactamase Inhibitors
•     Carbapenems
•     Aztreonam
•     Polymycin
•     Bacitracin

 

CLASS	DRUGS
Penicillin	Penicillin G. Aqueous penicillin G, Procaine penicillin G,Benzathine penicillin G,Penicillin V,Aminopenicillins, Penicillinase-resistant-penicillins, Antipseudomonal penicillins
cephalosporins	1st generation (Cefazolin, Cephalexin), 2nd generation (Cefoxitin, Cefaclor, Cefuroxime) 3rd generation (Ceftriaxone, Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime) 4th generation (Cefepime)
Beta-lactamase Inhibitors	Clavulanic Acid, Sulbactam, Tazobactam
Carbapenems	Imipenem (+ cilastatin), Meropenem, Doripenem, Ertapenem
Polymyxins	Polymyxin B, Polymyxin E

 

Protein Synthesis Inhibitors

Inhibit 30s Subunit

•     Aminoglycosides (gentamicin)
•     Tetracyclines
• Inhibit 50s Subunit
•     Macrolides
•     Chloramphenicol
•     Clindamycin
•     Linezolid
•     Streptogramins

 DNA Synthesis Inhibitors

•     Fluoroquinolones 
•     Metronidazole

RNA synthesis Inhibitors

•     Rifampin

Mycolic Acid synthesis inhibitors

•     Isoniazid

Folic Acid synthesis inhibitors        

•     Sulfonamides
•     Trimethoprim

 On the Basis of Spectrum of Activity

Broad spectrum

• ·        Amoxicillin
• ·        Tetracycline
• ·        Cephalosporin
• ·        Chloramphenicol
• ·        Erythromycin

Short spectrum

• ·        Penicillin-G
• ·        Cloxacillin
• ·        Vancomycin
• ·        Bacitracin
• ·        Floxacillin

On the Basis of mode of Action

Bacteriostatic antibiotics

• ·        Tetracycline
• ·        Chloramphenicol
• ·        Erythromycin
• ·        Lincomycin

Bactericidal antibiotics

• ·        Cephalosporin
• ·        Penicillin
• ·        Erythromycin
• ·        Aminoglycoside
• ·        Cotrimoxazole