Classes of Antibiotics and their Properties Chemical class

Beta-lactams (penicillins and cephalosporins) Semisynthetic beta-lactams

Examples
Penicillin G, Cephalothin

Biological source
Penicillium notatum and Cephalosporium species

Spectrum Mode of action (effective against)

Gram-positive bacteria Inhibits steps in cell wall (peptidoglycan) synthesis and murein assembly Inhibits steps in cell wall (peptidoglycan) synthesis and murein assembly Inhibitor of bacterial beta-lactamases Inhibits steps in cell wall (peptidoglycan) synthesis and murein assembly Inhibits steps in cell wall (peptidoglycan) synthesis and murein assembly Inhibits translation (protein synthesis) Inhibits translation (protein synthesis)

Ampicillin, Amoxicillin Augmentin is Streptomyces clavulanic acid clavuligerus plus Amoxicillin Aztreonam

Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria

Clavulanic Acid

Monobactams

Chromobacterium Gram-positive and Gramviolaceum negative bacteria

Carboxypenems

Imipenem

Streptomyces cattleya Streptomyces griseus Micromonospora species Amycolatopsis orientalis (formerly designated Nocardia orientalis) Streptomyces lincolnensis Streptomyces erythreus

Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria esp. Pseudomonas

Aminoglycosides

Streptomycin Gentamicin

Glycopeptides

Vancomycin

Inhibits steps in murein Gram-positive bacteria, (peptidoglycan) esp. Staphylococcus aureus biosynthesis and assembly Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria esp. anaerobic Bacteroides Inhibits translation (protein synthesis)

Lincomycins

Clindamycin

Macrolides

Erythromycin, Azithromycin Polymyxin Bacitracin

Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria not Inhibit translation (protein synthesis) enterics, Neisseria, Legionella, Mycoplasma Damages cytoplasmic membranes Inhibits steps in

Polypeptides

Bacillus polymyxa Gram-negative bacteria Bacillus subtilis Gram-positive bacteria

murein (peptidoglycan) biosynthesis and assembly Polyenes Amphotericin Nystatin Streptomyces nodosus Streptomyces noursei Streptomyces mediterranei Streptomyces species Fungi (Histoplasma) Fungi (Candida) Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria, Rickettsias Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria, Rickettsias Ehrlichia, Borrelia Streptomyces venezuelae synthetic synthetic Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria Mainly Gram-negative bacteria Gram-negative and some Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus anthracis) Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis Mycobacterium tuberculosis Inactivate membranes containing sterols Inactivate membranes containing sterols Inhibits transcription (bacterial RNA polymerase) Inhibit translation (protein synthesis) Inhibit translation (protein synthesis) Inhibits translation (protein synthesis) Inhibits DNA replication Inhibits DNA replication Inhibits folic acid metabolism (antifolate) Inhibits mycolic acid synthesis; analog of pyridoxine (Vit B6) Anti-folate

Rifamycins

Rifampicin

Tetracyclines

Tetracycline

Semisynthetic tetracycline

Doxycycline

Chloramphenicol Chloramphenicol Quinolones Nalidixic acid

Fluoroquinolones Ciprofloxacin

Growth factor analogs

Sulfanilamide, Gantrisin, Trimethoprim Isoniazid (INH)

synthetic

synthetic

PAS

synthetic