DIFFERENT CLASSES OF ANTIBIOTICS - AN OVERVIEW

Key: COMMONLY ACT AS BACTERIOSTATIC AGENTS, RESTRICTING GROWTH & REPRODUCTION COMMONLY ACT AS BACTERICIDAL AGENTS, CAUSING BACTERIAL CELL DEATH

-LACTAMS AMINOGLYCOSIDES chloramphenicol glycopeptides quinolones oxazolidinones

MOST WIDELY USED ANTIBIOTICS FAMILY OF OVER 20 ANTIBIOTICS COMMONLY USED IN LOW INCOME COMMON DRUGS OF LAST RESORT RESISTANCE EVOLVES RAPIDLY POTENT ANTIBIOTICS COMMONLY
IN THE NHS O
COUNTRIES OH
USED AS DRUGS OF LAST RESORT
NH2
O O
R O O
F O
H H HO O HO OH
OH
F
N HO
OH N+
HO O OH
S O NH2 - O
O O HO
H
O HO O O N
O O Cl

N N N
N
O O
N O
N NH2 Cl HO OH
HO HN N OH N Cl
HN
O
O O O
H O
H
N
H
N
O
OH H2N NH2 Cl OH O
NH
N
H
O
N
H
H2N O
N
H
HN

O All contain fused aromatic rings with a All contain 2-oxazolidone somewhere
HO

Distinct individual compound O

carboxylic acid group attached in their structure
All contain a beta-lactam ring All contain aminosugar substructures HO OH OH

EXAMPLES
Penicillins (shown) such as
amoxicillin and flucloxacillin;
Cephalosporins such as cefalexin.
MODE OF ACTION
Inhibit bacteria cell wall biosynthesis.
MODE OF ACTION
EXAMPLES Consist of carbohydrate linked to a EXAMPLES EXAMPLES
Inhibits synthesis of proteins,
Streptomycin (shown), neomycin, peptide formed of amino acids Ciprofloxacin (shown), levofloxacin, Linezolid (shown), posizolid,
preventing growth.
kanamycin, paromomycin. trovafloxacin. tedizolid, cycloserine.
EXAMPLES
No longer a first line drug in any
MODE OF ACTION Vancomycin (shown), teicoplanin. MODE OF ACTION MODE OF ACTION
developed nation (except for
Inhibit the synthesis of proteins by conjunctivitis) due to increased Interfere with bacteria DNA Inhibit synthesis of proteins by
MODE OF ACTION
bacteria, leading to cell death. resistance and worries about safety. replication and transcription. bacteria, preventing growth.
Inhibit bacteria cell wall biosynthesis.

DISCOVERY 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980

sulfonamides tetracyclines macrolides ansamycins streptogramins lipopeptides

FIRST COMMERCIAL ANTIBIOTICS BECOMING LESS POPULAR DUE TO SECOND MOST PRESCRIBED CAN ALSO DEMONSTRATE TWO GROUPS OF ANTIBIOTICS THAT INSTANCES OF RESISTANCE RARE
WERE SULFONAMIDES DEVELOPMENT OF RESISTANCE ANTIBIOTICS IN THE NHS ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY ACT SYNERGISTICALLY HO O
O
O O
OCH3 O N
OH O OH O O
O
H
OH NH OH O NH HN OH

H NH2
HO OH H3CO OH H2N
NH O NH
O
OH
H2N S N HO
N
O
O O
O

C2H5 O O O CH3 O O O
HN O HN

H OH O NH2 O OH
O N O H H

O OH
H H
N
O O
OCH3
HN
O
H3CO
O
NH2 O
C9H19

O
N
N
H
O
N
N
H
OH O OO
HN O
OH
CH3 OH N
O NH
O
All contain the sulfonamide group
O O NH O

All contain 4 adjacent cyclic All contain a 14-, 15-, or 16-membered

hydrocarbon rings macrolide ring All contain an aromatic ring bridged by Combination of two structurally differing NH2

EXAMPLES an aliphatic chain. compounds, from groups denoted A & B

Prontosil, sulfanilamide (shown),
sulfadiazine, sulfisoxazole.
MODE OF ACTION
Do not kill bacteria but prevent their
growth and multiplication. Cause
allergic reactions in some patients.
EXAMPLES
Tetracycline (shown), doxycycline,
limecycline, oxytetracycline.
MODE OF ACTION
Inhibit synthesis of proteins by
bacteria, preventing growth.
All contain a lipid bonded to a peptide
EXAMPLES EXAMPLES EXAMPLES
Erythromycin (shown), EXAMPLES
Geldanamycin (shown), rifamycin, Pristinamycin IIA (shown),
clarithromycin, azithromycin. Daptomycin (shown), surfactin.
naphthomycin. Pristinamycin IA.
MODE OF ACTION MODE OF ACTION
MODE OF ACTION MODE OF ACTION
Inhibit protein synthesis by bacteria, Disrupt multiple cell membrane
Inhibit the synthesis of RNA by Inhibit the synthesis of proteins by
occasionally leading to cell death. functions, leading to cell death.
bacteria, leading to cell death. bacteria, leading to cell death.

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