Antibiotic classification

Generic name Brand names Common uses

Aminoglycosides
Amikacin Amikin Infections caused by
Gentamicin Garamycin Gram-negative
Kanamycin Kantrex bacteria, such as
Neomycin Mycifradin Escherichia coli and
Netilmicin Netromycin Klebsiella particularly
Streptomycin Pseudomonas
aeruginosa. Effective
Tobramycin Nebcin
against Aerobic
Paromomycin Humatin
bacteria and
tularemia.
Ansamycins
Geldanamycin Experimental, as
Herbimycin antitumor antibiotics
Carbacephem
Loracarbef Lorabid
Carbapenems
Ertapenem Invanz Bactericidal for both
Doripenem Finibax Gram-positive and
Imipenem/Cilastatin Primaxin Gram-negative
Meropenem Merrem organisms and
therefore useful for
empiric broad-
spectrum
antibacterial
coverage.
Cephalosporins (First generation)
Cefadroxil Duricef
Cefazolin Ancef
Cefalotin or Cefalothin Keflin
Cefalexin Keflex
Cephalosporins (Second generation)
Cefaclor Ceclor
Cefamandole Mandole
Cefoxitin Mefoxin
Cefprozil Cefzil
Cefuroxime Ceftin, Zinnat
Cephalosporins (Third generation)
Cefixime Suprax
Cefdinir Omnicef, Cefdiel
Cefditoren Spectracef
Cefoperazone Cefobid
Cefotaxime Claforan
Cefpodoxime Vantin
Ceftazidime Fortaz
Ceftibuten Cedax
Ceftizoxime
Ceftriaxone Rocephin
Cephalosporins (Fourth generation)
Cefepime Maxipime
Cephalosporins (Fifth generation)
Ceftobiprole Used to treat MRSA
Glycopeptides
Teicoplanin
Vancomycin Vancocin
Macrolides
Azithromycin Zithromax, Streptococcal
Sumamed, Zitrocin infections, syphilis,
Clarithromycin Biaxin respiratory
Dirithromycin Dynabac infections,
Erythromycin Erythocin, mycoplasmal
Erythroped infections, Lyme
Roxithromycin disease
Troleandomycin TAO
Telithromycin Ketek Pneumonia
Spectinomycin Antimetabolite,
Anticancer
Monobactams
Aztreonam Azactam
Penicillins
Amoxicillin Novamox, Amoxil Wide range of
Ampicillin Principen infections; penicillin
Azlocillin used for
Carbenicillin streptococcal
Cloxacillin Tegopen infections, syphilis,
Dicloxacillin Dynapen and Lyme disease
Flucloxacillin Floxapen
Mezlocillin
Meticillin
Nafcillin
Oxacillin
Penicillin
Piperacillin
Ticarcillin
Polypeptides
Bacitracin Eye, ear or bladder
Colistin infections; usually
Polymyxin B applied directly to
the eye or inhaled
into the lungs; rarely
given by injection
Quinolones
Ciprofloxacin Cipro, Ciproxin, Urinary tract
Ciprobay infections, bacterial
Enoxacin Penetrex prostatitis,
Gatifloxacin Tequin community-acquired
Levofloxacin Levaquin pneumonia, bacterial
Lomefloxacin Maxaquin diarrhea,
Moxifloxacin Avelox mycoplasmal
infections,
Norfloxacin Noroxin
gonorrhea
Ofloxacin Floxin, Ocuflox

Trovafloxacin Trovan Withdrawn

Grepafloxacin Raxar Withdrawn
Sparfloxacin Zagam Withdrawn
Temafloxacin Omniflox Withdrawn
 Sulfonamides
Mafenide Urinary tract
infections (except
sulfacetamide and
mafenide); mafenide
is used topically for
burns

Sulfonamidochrysoidine Prontosil
(archaic)
Sulfacetamide
Sulfadiazine Micro-Sulfon
Sulfamethizole
Sulfanilimide (archaic)
Sulfasalazine Azulfidine
Sulfisoxazole Trimpex
Trimethoprim

Trimethoprim- Bactrim, Septra

Sulfamethoxazole (Co-
trimoxazole) (TMP-SMX)
Demeclocycline Declomycin Syphilis, chlamydial
Doxycycline Vibramycin infections, Lyme
Minocycline Minocin disease,
Oxytetracycline Terramycin mycoplasmal
Tetracycline Sumycin, Achromycin infections, acne
V, Steclin rickettsial infections,
*malaria *Note:
Malaria is caused by
a protist and not a
bacterium.
 Others
Arsphenamine Salvarsan
Chloramphenicol Chloromycetin
Clindamycin Cleocin
Lincomycin Lincocin
Ethambutol Myambutol
Fosfomycin Monurol
Fusidic acid Fucidin
Furazolidone
Isoniazid I.N.H.
Linezolid Zyvox
Metronidazole Flagyl
Mupirocin Bactroban
Nitrofurantoin Macrodantin, Macrobid
Platensimycin
Pyrazinamide
Quinupristin/Dalfopristin Syncercid
Rifampicin
Thiamphenicol
Tinidazole
Dapsone Avlosulfon
Clofazimine Lamprene