Classification of Antimicrobial Drugs by Susceptible
Organisms
Antibacterial Drugs
Narrow Spectrum
Gram-positive cocci and gram-positive bacilli
Penicillin G and V
Penicillinase-resistant penicillin: oxacillin and nafcillin
Vancomycin
Erythromycin
Clindamycin
Gram-negative aerobes
Aminoglycosides: gentamicin and others
Cephalosporins (1st and 2nd generations)
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
isoniazid
Rifampin
Ethambutol
Pyrazinamide
Broad Spectrum
Gram-positive cocci and gram-negative bacilli
Broad spectrum penicillin: ampicillin and others
Extended spectrum penicillin: piperacillin and others
Cephalosporins (3rd generation)
Tetracyclines: tetracycline and others
Carbapenems: imipenem and others
Trimethoprim
Sulfonamides: sulfisoxazole and others
Fluroquinolones: ciprofloxacin and others
Antiviral Drugs
Drugs for HIIV
Reverse transcriptase inhibitors: zidovudine and others
Protease inhibitors: ritonavir and others
Fusion inhibitors: enfuvirtide
Integrase inhibitors: raltegravir
CCR5 antagonists: maraviroc
Drugs for Influenza
Adamantanes: amantadine and others
Neuraminidase inhibitors: oseltamivir and others
Other antiviral drugs
Acyclovir
Ribavirin
Interferon-a
Antifungal Drugs
Antifungal Drugs
Polyene antibiotics: amphotericin B and others
Azoles: itraconazole and others
Echinocandins: caspofungin and others
Classification of Antimicrobial Drugs by Mechanism of Action
Antibacterial Drugs
Drugs that inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis
Drugs that inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis or activate enzymes that disrupt the cell
wall. These drugs weaken the cell wall and, hence, promote bacterial lysis and death.
e.g. penicillin and
cephalosporins
Drugs that increase cell membrane permeability
Drugs in this group increase the permeability of cell membranes, causing leakage of
intracellular material.
e.g. amphotericin B
Drugs that cause lethal inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis
We do not know why inhibition of protein synthesis by these agents results in cell
death.
aminoglycosides
e.g. gentamicin
Drugs that cause nonlethal inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis
Like the aminoglycosides, these drugs inhibit bacterial protein synthesis. However, in
contrast to the aminoglycosides, these agents only slow microbial growth; they do not
kill bacteria at clinically achievable concentrations.
e.g. tetracyclines
Drugs that inhibit bacterial synthesis of DNA and RNA or disrupt DNA function
These drugs inhibit synthesis of DNA or RNA by binding directly to nucleic acids or by
interacting with enzymes required for nucleic acid synthesis. They may also bind with
DNA and disrupt its function.
Members of this group
include: rifampin,
metronidazole, and the
fluoroquinolones
(e.g. ciprofloxacin).
Antimetabolites
These drugs disrupt specific biochemical reactions. The result is either a decrease in
the synthesis of essential cell constituents or synthesis of nonfunctional analogs of
normal metabolites.
Drugs that suppress viral replication.
Most of these drugs inhibit specific enzymes—DNA polymerase, reverse transcriptase,
protease, integrase, or neuraminidase—required for viral replication and infectivity.
trimethoprim and
sulfonamides