A summary of the main types of antibiotics used to treat various infections. Includes the mechanism of pathogen destruction from each class of antibiotic, which infections they are most useful against, and levels of resistance from 'superbugs'
- Include penicillin, the first antibiotic discovered, by Alexander Fleming in 1928
- All β-lactams contain a lactam ring, and include pencillins such as amoxicillin and
cephalosporins
- These antibiotics work by interfering with the synthesis of peptidoglycan, an important
component of bacterial cell walls, and because of this are mainly effective against gram-
negative bacteria
- Bacteria can develop resistance to β-lactams through a variety of routes, including the
production of enzymes which break down the lactam ring (β-lactamases)
- In the NHS, pencillins are the most heavily prescribed antibiotics, with amoxicillin being the
most common
- Examples: Pencillins such as Amoxicillin and Flucloxacillin, Cephalosporins such as
Cefalexin
Sulfonamides
- The sulfonamide Prontosil was the first commercially available antibiotic, developed in
1932
- Sulfonamides are able to act on both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria as they do
not kill bacteria directly, but inhibit bacterial synthesis of the B vitamin folate, thus
preventing growth and reproduction
- Presently, sulfonamides are rarely used, due to bacterial resistance and also the concern of
unwanted side effects including hepatotoxicity
- Examples: Prontosil, Sulfanilamide, Sulfadiazine and Sulfisoxazole
Aminoglycosides
- Aminoglycosides inhibit the synthesis of proteins in bacteria, eventually leading to cell
death
- These are only effective against certain types of gram-negative bacteria, and some gram
positive bacteria
- This class of antibiotics is not absorbed during direction, so must be injected
- In the treatment of tuberculosis, Streptomycin was the first found to be effective, however
due to toxicity issues, aminoglycosides are rarely used at present
- Examples: Streptomycin, Neomycin, Kanamycin and Paromomycin
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