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

IN THE NHS

FAMILY OF OVER 20 ANTIBIOTICS

COMMONLY USED IN LOW INCOME

COUNTRIES

COMMON DRUGS OF LAST RESORT

RESISTANCE EVOLVES RAPIDLY

POTENT ANTIBIOTICS COMMONLY

USED AS DRUGS OF LAST RESORT

H
N

O
O

O
HO
O

HO

O
HO

OH
O
All contain a beta-lactam ring

HN

NH2
NH2

OH

All contain aminosugar substructures

MODE OF ACTION
Inhibit bacteria cell wall biosynthesis.

EXAMPLES
Streptomycin (shown), neomycin,
kanamycin, paromomycin.
MODE OF ACTION
Inhibit the synthesis of proteins by
bacteria, leading to cell death.

1930

O
OH
HO

HO

HO

N
H

OH

O
NH

HO

N
H

H
N
O

N
H
H2N

No longer a first line drug in any

developed nation (except for
conjunctivitis) due to increased
resistance and worries about safety.

1940

N
H

HN

O
HO

OH

OH

Consist of carbohydrate linked to a

peptide formed of amino acids
EXAMPLES
Vancomycin (shown), teicoplanin.
MODE OF ACTION
Inhibit bacteria cell wall biosynthesis.

1950

1960

H
N

HN

H
N

OH

N
OH

Distinct individual compound

MODE OF ACTION
Inhibits synthesis of proteins,
preventing growth.

Cl
O

Cl

Cl
Cl

NH2

N+

OH

NH2

OH

H2N

EXAMPLES
Penicillins (shown) such as
amoxicillin and flucloxacillin;
Cephalosporins such as cefalexin.

DISCOVERY

O HO

HO

OH

All contain fused aromatic rings with a

carboxylic acid group attached

All contain 2-oxazolidone somewhere

in their structure

EXAMPLES
Ciprofloxacin (shown), levofloxacin,
trovafloxacin.

EXAMPLES
Linezolid (shown), posizolid,
tedizolid, cycloserine.

MODE OF ACTION
Interfere with bacteria DNA
replication and transcription.

MODE OF ACTION
Inhibit synthesis of proteins by
bacteria, preventing growth.

1970

1980

sulfonamides

tetracyclines

macrolides

ansamycins

streptogramins

lipopeptides

FIRST COMMERCIAL ANTIBIOTICS

WERE SULFONAMIDES

BECOMING LESS POPULAR DUE TO

DEVELOPMENT OF RESISTANCE

SECOND MOST PRESCRIBED

ANTIBIOTICS IN THE NHS

CAN ALSO DEMONSTRATE

ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY

TWO GROUPS OF ANTIBIOTICS THAT

ACT SYNERGISTICALLY

INSTANCES OF RESISTANCE RARE

O
H2N

S
O

H
H

All contain the sulfonamide group

EXAMPLES
Prontosil, sulfanilamide (shown),
sulfadiazine, sulfisoxazole.
MODE OF ACTION
Do not kill bacteria but prevent their
growth and multiplication. Cause
allergic reactions in some patients.

OH

OH O
OH

O
NH2

H
OH

OH
N

HO

OH

C2H5

HO
O

O
O

N
O

CH3

OH

All contain 4 adjacent cyclic

hydrocarbon rings

All contain a 14-, 15-, or 16-membered

macrolide ring

EXAMPLES
Tetracycline (shown), doxycycline,
limecycline, oxytetracycline.
MODE OF ACTION
Inhibit synthesis of proteins by
bacteria, preventing growth.

NH

OH

O
HN

NH

H2N

O
O
H3CO

OH

OCH3

O
CH3

H3CO

OH

HO

OCH3

O
O

NH2

O
O

All contain an aromatic ring bridged by

an aliphatic chain.

Combination of two structurally differing

compounds, from groups denoted A & B

EXAMPLES
Erythromycin (shown),
clarithromycin, azithromycin.

EXAMPLES
Geldanamycin (shown), rifamycin,
naphthomycin.

EXAMPLES
Pristinamycin IIA (shown),
Pristinamycin IA.

MODE OF ACTION
Inhibit protein synthesis by bacteria,
occasionally leading to cell death.

MODE OF ACTION
Inhibit the synthesis of RNA by
bacteria, leading to cell death.

MODE OF ACTION
Inhibit the synthesis of proteins by
bacteria, leading to cell death.

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H
N

C9H19
O

O
HN

NH
O

N
H

HN
NH2 O
H
N
N
H
O
OH

O
N
H
NH

OH
O
NH

HN

OO

HN

OH
O
OH

NH

NH2

All contain a lipid bonded to a peptide

EXAMPLES
Daptomycin (shown), surfactin.
MODE OF ACTION
Disrupt multiple cell membrane
functions, leading to cell death.

BY

NC

ND