Antibiotics and their classification, Part - 1

What are Antibiotics, Classification of antibiotics on the basis of Spectrum, Chemical Composition, Route of administration, Mechanism of action and effects of their action.

1. ANTIBIOTICS and CLASSIFICATION PART – 1 ZAG

2. Substance produced by a microorganism or a similar product produced wholly ( synthetic ) or partially ( semi-synthetic ) by chemical synthesis and in low concentrations inhibits the growth of or kills microorganisms

3. Classification of Antibiotics Antibiotics are classified into different categories, on the basis of ; Mechanism of Action Spectrum /  Target specificity Effects of their activity Route of administration Chemical structure

4. Classification : Spectrum Basis On the basis of target specificity, antibiotics are divided into two; Broad Spectrum broad spectrum antibiotics affect a wide range of bacteria, including both Gram positive and negative (Large Number of families). E.g. Ampicillin , Amoxicillin Narrow spectrum Narrow spectrum antibiotics act against a limited group of bacteria, either gram positive or gram negative. for example Sodium Fusidate only acts against staphylococcal bacteria.

5. Classification : Effects of Specificity On the basis of Effects of specificity, antibiotics are divided into two; Bacteriostatics A drug that prevents bacterial growth and reproduction but does not necessarily kill them . Examples are; Sulfonamide, tetracycline , chloramphenicol , trimethoprim , macrolides , Lincosamide Bactericidal An agent that kills bacteria . Aminoglycosides , Penicillin, Cephalosporin

6. Classification : Chemical structure Following are some major classes of antibiotics ; Beta Lactams Macrolides Aminoglycosides Quinolones and Flouroquinolones Sulphonamides Glcopeptides Lincosamides Streptogramins Trimethoprim Steroid Antibiotics

7. Classification : Mechanism of Action Categorically divided as; Inhibitor of cell wall synthesis/ Peptidoglycan Inhibitors Beta- lactum ; Penicillin Bacitracin Inhibitor of Protein Synthesis Streptomycin Aminoglycosides Inhibitor of Nucleic acid synthesis Quinolones Ciprofloxacin Inhibitor of Essential Metabolite synthesis Inhibitor of Folic acid synthesis Sulfonamide Trimethoprim Inhibitor o f cytoplasmic membrane Polymyxin ; Colistin

8. For further knowledge about Antibiotics check Part - II