| An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the | | | | wall.The most commonly-prescribed |
| growth of bacteria. Antibiotics are one class of | | | | cephalosporins: |
| antimicrobials, a larger group which also includes | | | | |
| anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitic drugs. | | | | First generation |
| Antibiotics are chemicals produced by or derived | | | | |
| from microorganisms (i.e. bugs or germs such as | | | | cephazolin |
| bacteria and fungi). The first antibiotic was | | | | cefadroxil |
| discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928 in a | | | | cephalexin |
| significant breakthrough for medical | | | | cephradine |
| science.Antibiotics are among the most frequently | | | | |
| prescribed medications in modern medicine. | | | | Second generation |
| Some antibiotics are 'bactericidal', meaning that | | | | |
| they work by killing bacteria. Other antibiotics are | | | | cefaclor |
| 'bacteriostatic', meaning that they work by | | | | cefuroxime |
| stopping bacteria multiplying.Each different type of | | | | cefprozil |
| antibiotic affects different bacteria in different | | | | loracarbef |
| ways. For example, an antibiotic might inhibit a | | | | |
| bacterium's ability to turn glucose into energy, or | | | | Third generation |
| its ability to construct its cell wall. When this | | | | |
| happens, the bacterium dies instead of | | | | cefotaxime |
| reproducing.Some antibiotics can be used to treat | | | | cefixime |
| a wide range of infections and are known as | | | | cefpodoxime |
| 'broad-spectrum' antibiotics. Others are only | | | | ceftazidime |
| effective against a few types of bacteria and are | | | | cefdinir |
| called 'narrow-spectrum' antibiotics.Side effects of | | | | |
| antibioticsAntibiotics can literally save lives and are | | | | Fourth generation |
| effective in treating illnesses caused by bacterial | | | | |
| infections. However, like all drugs, they have the | | | | cefepime |
| potential to cause unwanted side effects. Many of | | | | cefpirome |
| these side effects are not dangerous, although | | | | |
| they can make life miserable while the drug is | | | | FluoroquinolonesFluoroquinolones are known as |
| being taken.In general, antibiotics rarely cause | | | | broad-spectrum antibiotics, meaning they are |
| serious side effects. The most common side | | | | effective against many bacteria. Fluoroquinolones |
| effects from antibiotics are diarrhea, nausea, | | | | are used to treat most common urinary tract |
| vomiting. Fungal infections of the mouth, digestive | | | | infections, skin infections, and respiratory |
| tract and vagina can also occur with antibiotics | | | | infections (such as sinusitis, pneumonia, bronchitis). |
| because they destroy the protective 'good' | | | | Common side effects of fluoroquinolones include |
| bacteria in the body (which help prevent | | | | mainly the digestive system: mild stomach pain or |
| overgrowth of any one organism), as well as the | | | | upset, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. These are |
| 'bad' ones, responsible for the infection being | | | | usually mild and go away over time. |
| treated.Some people are allergic to antibiotics, | | | | Fluoroquinolones should not be given during |
| particularly penicillins. Allergic reactions cause | | | | pregnancy.Fluoroquinolones inhibit bacteria by |
| swelling of the face, itching and a skin rash and, in | | | | interfering with their ability to make DNA. This |
| severe cases, breathing difficulties. Allergic | | | | activity makes it difficult for bacteria to multiply. |
| reactions require prompt treatment.Types of | | | | This effect is bacteriocidal.The most |
| antibioticsThere are many different kinds of | | | | commonly-prescribed fluoroquinolones: |
| antibiotics. The type of antibiotics you take | | | | |
| depends on the type of infection you have and | | | | ciprofloxacin |
| what kind of antibiotics are known to be | | | | gatifloxacin |
| effective.The main classes of antibiotics: | | | | gemifloxacin |
| | | | levofloxacin |
| Aminoglycosides | | | | moxifloxacin |
| Cephalosporins | | | | norfloxacin |
| Fluoroquinolones | | | | ofloxacin |
| Macrolides | | | | trovafloxacin |
| Penicillins | | | | PenicillinsPenicillin was the first antibiotic discovered |
| Tetracyclines | | | | by Alexander Fleming in 1929. Penicillins are used |
| MacrolidesThere are a couple of new relatives of | | | | to treat skin infections, dental infections, ear |
| erythromycin (azithromycin and clarithromycin) | | | | infections, respiratory tract infections, urinary |
| that work the same way, but kill more bugs and | | | | tract infections, gonorrhea. Penicillins are |
| have slightly fewer side effects. The | | | | sometimes combined with other ingredients called |
| erythromycin-like antibiotics are also known as | | | | beta-lactamase inhibitors, which protect the |
| macrolides. Macrolides belong to the polyketide | | | | penicillin from bacterial enzymes that may destroy |
| class of natural products. Macrolide antibiotics are | | | | it before it can do its work.Penicillins are usually |
| used to treat respiratory tract infections, genital, | | | | very safe. The greatest risk is an allergic reaction, |
| gastrointestinal tract, soft tissue infections caused | | | | which can be severe. People who have been |
| by susceptible strains of specific | | | | allergic to cephalosporins are likely to be allergic to |
| bacteria.Macrolides bind with ribosomes from | | | | penicillins.Penicillins block the construction of |
| susceptible bacteria to prevent protein production. | | | | bacteria cell walls, causing the walls to break |
| This action is mainly bacteriostatic, but can also be | | | | down, and eventually killing the bacteria.The most |
| bactericidal in high concentrations.Macrolides cause | | | | commonly-prescribed penicillins: |
| very little allergy problems compared to the | | | | |
| penicillins and cephalosporins, the biggest concern | | | | amoxicillin |
| with these medicines is that they can irritate the | | | | ampicillin |
| stomach.The most commonly-prescribed | | | | bacampicillin |
| macrolides: | | | | oxacillin |
| | | | penicillin |
| erythromycin | | | | Tetracyclines Tetracyclines are a family of |
| clarithromycin | | | | antibiotics used to treat a broad spectrum of |
| azithromycin | | | | bacterial infections. Tetracyclines were discovered |
| roxithromycin | | | | in the late 1940s and were extremely popular |
| Aminoglycosides Aminoglycoside antibiotics are | | | | when they were first discovered. The tetracycline |
| used to treat infections caused by gram-negative | | | | antibiotics have a very broad spectrum of |
| bacteria. Aminoglycosides may be used along with | | | | action.Tetracyclines are used to treat mild acne, |
| penicillins or cephalosporins to give a two-pronged | | | | Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme Disease, |
| attack on the bacteria. Aminoglycosides work | | | | upper respiratory tract infections, urinary tract |
| quite well, but bacteria can become resistant to | | | | infections, sexually transmitted diseases, |
| them. Since aminoglycosides are broken down | | | | typhus.The most commonly-prescribed |
| easily in the stomach, they can't be given by | | | | tetracyclines: |
| mouth and must be injected. When injected, their | | | | |
| side effects include possible damage to the ears | | | | tetracycline |
| and to the kidneys. This can be minimized by | | | | doxycycline |
| checking the amount of the drug in the blood and | | | | minocycline |
| adjusting the dose so that there is enough drug | | | | Antibiotic resistanceAntibiotics are extremely |
| to kill bacteria but not too much of it. Generally, | | | | important in medicine, but unfortunately bacteria |
| aminoglycosides are given for short time | | | | are capable of developing resistance to them. |
| periods.The aminoglycosides are drugs which stop | | | | Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are germs that are |
| bacteria from making proteins. This effect is | | | | not killed by commonly used antibiotics. When |
| bactericidal.The most commonly-prescribed | | | | bacteria are exposed to the same antibiotics over |
| aminoglycosides: | | | | and over, the bacteria can change and are no |
| | | | longer affected by the drug.Bacteria have number |
| amikacin | | | | of ways how they become antibiotic-resistant. For |
| gentamicin | | | | example, they possess an internal mechanism of |
| kanamycin | | | | changing their structure so the antibiotic no longer |
| neomycin | | | | works, they develop ways to inactivate or |
| streptomycin | | | | neutralize the antibiotic. Also bacteria can transfer |
| tobramycin | | | | the genes coding for antibiotic resistance between |
| CephalosporinsCephalosporins are grouped into | | | | them, making it possible for bacteria never |
| "generations" by their antimicrobial properties. | | | | exposed to an antibiotic to acquire resistance |
| Cephalosporins are categorized chronically, and are | | | | from those which have. The problem of antibiotic |
| therefore divided into first, second, and third | | | | resistance is worsened when antibiotics are used |
| generations. Currently, three generations of | | | | to treat disorders in which they have no efficacy |
| cephalosporins are recognized and a fourth has | | | | (e.g. antibiotics are not effective against infections |
| been proposed. Each newer generation of | | | | caused by viruses), and when they are used |
| cephalosporins has greater gram negative | | | | widely as prophylaxis rather than |
| antimicrobial properties than the preceding | | | | treatment.Resistance to antibiotics poses a serious |
| generation. The later-generation cephalosporins | | | | and growing problem, because some infectious |
| have greater effect against resistant | | | | diseases are becoming more difficult to treat. |
| bacteria.Cephalosporins are used to treat | | | | Resistant bacteria do not respond to the |
| pneumonia, strep throat, staph infections, tonsillitis, | | | | antibiotics and continue to cause infection. Some |
| bronchitis, otitis media, various types of skin | | | | of these resistant bacteria can be treated with |
| infections, gonorrhea. Cephalosporin antibiotics are | | | | more powerful medicines, but there some |
| also commonly used for surgical prophylaxis. | | | | infections that are difficult to cure even with new |
| Cephalosporins are closely related to the | | | | or experimental drugs.Yury Bayarski is the author |
| penicillins.Cephalosporins have a bacteriocidal effect | | | | of - a prescription drug price comparison website. |
| by inhibiting the synthesis of the bacteria cell | | | | |