The following is a list of antibiotics. The highest division between antibiotics is bactericidal and bacteriostatic. Bactericidals kill bacteria directly, whereas bacteriostatics prevent them from dividing. However, these classifications are based on laboratory behavior. The development of antibiotics has had a profound effect on the health of people for many years. Also, both people and animals have used antibiotics to treat infections and diseases. In practice, both treat bacterial infections.Pelczar, M. J.; Chan, E. C. S. and Krieg, N. R. (1999) "Host-Parasite Interaction; Nonspecific Host Resistance", In: Microbiology Concepts and Applications, 6th ed., McGraw-Hill Inc., New York pp. 478-479.
By coverage The following are lists of antibiotics for specific microbial coverage (not an exhaustive list):
MRSA Antibiotics that cover methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): Vancomycin Teicoplanin Linezolid Daptomycin Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole Doxycycline Ceftobiprole (5th generation) Ceftaroline (5th generation) Clindamycin Dalbavancin Daptomycin Delafloxacin Fusidic acid Minocycline Mupirocin (topical) Omadacycline Oritavancin Tedizolid Telavancin Tigecycline (also covers gram negatives)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Antibiotics that cover Pseudomonas aeruginosa:
Certain cephalosporins, cephalosporin-beta-lactamase-inhibitor combinations, and new siderophore cephalosporins. Ceftazidime (3rd generation) Cefepime (4th generation) Cefepime/sulbactam Ceftobiprole (5th generation) Ceftolozane/tazobactam Ceftazidime/avibactam Cefiderocol(siderophore cephalosporin)
Certain penicillins: Piperacillin and Piperacillin/tazobactam Ticarcillin/clavulanic acid
Certain carbapenems and carbapenem-beta-lactamase-inhibitors combinations: Carbapenems: (meropenem, imipenem/cilastatin, doripenem - NOT ertapenem) Meropenem/vaborbactam Imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam
Others: Fluoroquinolones: particularly levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin Polymyxins: Colistin, Polymyxin B Aztreonam (monobactam) Aminoglycosides - particularly tobramycin and amikacin
VRE Antibiotics that usually have activity against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE): Linezolid and Tedizolid Streptogramins such as quinupristin-dalfopristin Advanced generation tetracyclines: Tigecycline, Omadacycline, Eravacycline Daptomycin Oritavancin
Antibiotics with less reliable but occasional (depending on isolate and subspecies) activity: occasionally penicillins including penicillin, ampicillin and ampicillin-sulbactam, amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulnate, and piperacillin-tazobactam (not all vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus isolates are resistant to penicillin and ampicillin) occasionally doxycycline and minocycline occasionally fluoroquinolones such as moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin
By class See also pathogenic bacteria for a list of antibiotics sorted by target bacteria.
+ Antibiotics by class Generic name Brand names Common usesFor common Uses and possible side effects reference is: Robert Berkow (ed.) The Merck Manual of Medical Information - Home Edition. Pocket (September 1999), . Possible side effects Mechanism of action Aminoglycosides Amikacin Amikin Infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Effective against aerobic bacteria (not obligate/facultative anaerobes) and tularemia. All aminoglycosides are ineffective when taken orally as the stomach will digest the drug before it goes into the bloodstream. However aminoglycosides are effective in Intravenous, intramuscular and topical forms. Hearing loss Vertigo Kidney damage Binding to the bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit (some work by binding to the 50S subunit), inhibiting the translocation of the peptidyl-tRNA from the A-site to the P-site and also causing misreading of mRNA, leaving the bacterium unable to synthesize proteins vital to its growth.Gentamicin GaramycinKanamycin KantrexNeomycin Neo-FradinNetilmicin NetromycinTobramycin NebcinParomomycin HumatinStreptomycin TuberculosisSpectinomycin(Bs) Trobicin Gonorrhea AnsamycinsGeldanamycin Experimental, as antitumor antibiotics Block DNA transcription, either via inhibiting DNA-dependent RNA polymerase by binding to the β-subunitHerbimycin Rifaximin Xifaxan Traveler's diarrhea caused by E. coli CarbacephemLoracarbef Lorabid Discontinued Prevents bacterial cell division by inhibiting cell wall synthesis. CarbapenemsErtapenem Invanz Bactericidal for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms and therefore useful for empiric broad-spectrum antibacterial coverage. (Notes: MRSA resistance to this class. All are active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa except ertapenem.) Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea Seizures Headache Rash and allergic reactions Inhibition of cell wall synthesisDoripenem DoribaxImipenem/Cilastatin PrimaxinMeropenem Merrem Cephalosporins (First generation)Cefadroxil Duricef Good coverage against Gram-positive infections. Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea (if alcohol taken concurrently) Allergic reactions Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.Cefazolin Ancef, KefzolCephradine Cephapirin Cephalothin Cefalexin Keflex Cephalosporins (Second generation)Cefaclor Distaclor, Ceclor, Raniclor Less Gram-positive cover, improved Gram-negative cover. Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea (if alcohol taken concurrently) - if contains methylthiotetrazole side group Hypoprothrombinemia - if contains methylthiotetrazole side group Allergic reactions Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.Cefoxitin Cefotetan CefotanCefamandole Cefmetazole Cefonicid Loracarbef Cefprozil CefzilCefuroxime Ceftin, Zinacef (UK) Cephalosporins (Third generation)Cefixime (antagonistic with Chloramphenicol) Cefspan (Fujisawa), Suprax Improved coverage of Gram-negative organisms, except Pseudomonas. Reduced Gram-positive cover. But still not cover Mycoplasma and Chlamydia Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea (if alcohol taken concurrently) Allergic reactions Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.Cefdinir Omnicef, CefdielCefditoren Spectracef, MeiactCefoperazone [Unlike most third-generation agents, cefoperazone is active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa], combination Cefoperazone with Sulbactam makes more effective antibiotic, because Sulbactam avoid degeneration of Cefoperazone Cefobid (discontinued)Cefotaxime ClaforanCefpodoxime Vantin, BanadozCeftazidime (Unlike most third-generation agents, ceftazidime is active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but less active against Staphylococci and Streptococci compare to other 3rd generation of cephalosporins) Fortaz, CeptazCeftibuten CedaxCeftizoxime Moxalactam Ceftriaxone (IV and IM, not orally, effective also for syphilis and uncomplicated gonorrhea) Rocephin Cephalosporins (Fourth generation)Cefepime MaxipimeCovers pseudomonal infections. Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea (if alcohol taken concurrently) Allergic reactions Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls. Cephalosporins (Fifth generation)Ceftaroline fosamil Teflaro Used to treat MRSA Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Allergic reaction Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls.Ceftobiprole Zeftera Used to treat MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and enterococci Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Nausea (if alcohol taken concurrently) Allergic reactions Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls. GlycopeptidesTeicoplanin Targocid (UK) Active against aerobic and anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria including MRSA; Vancomycin is used orally for the treatment of C. difficile colitis Inhibits peptidoglycan synthesis.Vancomycin VancocinTelavancin VibativDalbavancin DalvanceOritavancin Orbactiv Lincosamides(Bs)Clindamycin Cleocin Serious staph-, pneumo-, and streptococcal infections in penicillin-allergic patients, also anaerobic infections; clindamycin topically for acne Possible C. difficile-related pseudomembranous enterocolitis Binds to 50S subunit of bacterial ribosomal RNA thereby inhibiting protein synthesis.Lincomycin Lincocin LipopeptideDaptomycin Cubicin Gram-positive organisms, but is inhibited by pulmonary surfactant so less effective against pneumonias Binds to the membrane and cause rapid depolarization, resulting in a loss of membrane potential leading to inhibition of protein, DNA and RNA synthesis. Macrolides(Bs)Azithromycin Zithromax, Sumamed, Xithrone Streptococcal infections, syphilis, upper respiratory tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections, mycoplasmal infections, Lyme disease Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (especially at higher doses) Prolonged cardiac QT interval (especially erythromycin) Hearing loss (especially at higher doses) JaundiceInhibition of bacterial protein biosynthesis by binding reversibly to the subunit 50S of the bacterial ribosome, thereby inhibiting translocation of peptidyl tRNA.Clarithromycin BiaxinErythromycin Erythocin, ErythropedRoxithromycin Telithromycin Ketek Pneumonia Visual disturbance, liver toxicity.Spiramycin Rovamycine Mouth infections FidaxomicinDificidTreatment of Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile infection. May be more narrow-spectrum than vancomycin, resulting in less bowel microbiota alteration.Nausea (11%), vomiting, and abdominal pain.Dificid (fidaxomicin) [prescribing information] Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck; December 2015.Bactericidal in susceptible organisms such as C. difficile by inhibiting RNA polymerase, thereby inhibiting protein synthesis. MonobactamsAztreonam Azactam Gram-negative bacteria Same mode of action as other beta-lactam antibiotics: disrupt the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls. NitrofuransFurazolidone Furoxone Bacterial or protozoal diarrhea or enteritis Nitrofurantoin(Bs) Macrodantin, Macrobid Urinary tract infections Oxazolidinones(Bs)Linezolid Zyvox VRSA Thrombocytopenia Peripheral neuropathy Serotonin syndrome Protein synthesis inhibitor; prevents the initiation stepPosizolid Phase II clinical trials Radezolid Phase II clinical trials Tedizolid Sivextro PenicillinsAmoxicillin Novamox, Amoxil Wide range of infections; penicillin used for streptococcal infections, syphilis, and Lyme disease Gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea Allergy with serious anaphylactic reactions