INFORMATION ON Group of ANTIBIOTICS

Following is the list of antibiotics, sorted by class. The highest division is between bactericidal antibiotics and bacteriostatic antibiotics.
Bactericidals kill bacteria directly where bacteriostatics prevent them from dividing. However, these classifications are based on laboratory
behavior; in practice, both of these are capable of ending a bacterial infection.

Antibiotics by class
Mechanism of
Generic name Brand names Common uses[2] Possible side effects[2]
action
Aminoglycosides
Amikacin Amikin Binding to the
Gentamicin Garamycin bacterial 30S
ribosomal subunit
Kanamycin Kantrex
Infections caused by Gram- (some work by
Neomycin Neo-Fradin[3] negative bacteria, such as binding to the 50S
Netilmicin Netromycin Escherichia coli and  Hearing loss subunit), inhibiting
Tobramycin Nebcin Klebsiella particularly  Vertigo the translocation of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa. the peptidyl-tRNA
Effective against Aerobic
 Kidney damage
from the A-site to the
bacteria (not P-site and also
obligate/facultative causing misreading
Paromomycin Humatin anaerobes) and tularemia. of mRNA, leaving the
bacterium unable to
synthesize proteins
vital to its growth.
Spectinomycin Trobicin Gonorrhea

Ansamycins
Geldanamycin Experimental, as antitumor
Herbimycin antibiotics
Traveler's diarrhea caused
Rifaximin Xifaxan
by E. coli

Carbacephem
prevents bacterial
cell division by
Loracarbef Lorabid Discontinued
inhibiting cell wall
synthesis.

Carbapenems
Ertapenem Invanz Bactericidal for both Gram-  Gastrointestinal upset and
Doripenem Doribax positive and Gram-negative diarrhea
organisms and therefore  Nausea
Imipenem/Cilastatin Primaxin
useful for empiric broad-  Seizures Inhibition of cell wall
spectrum antibacterial synthesis
coverage. (Note MRSA
 Headache
Meropenem Merrem  Rash and allergic reactions
resistance to this class.)

Cephalosporins (First generation)

Cefadroxil Duricef  Gastrointestinal upset and Same mode of action
Cefazolin Ancef diarrhea as other beta-lactam
Keflin Good coverage against Gram  Nausea (if alcohol taken antibiotics: disrupt
Cefalotin or Cefalothin positive infections. concurrently) the synthesis of the
(discontinued)
 Allergic reactions peptidoglycan layer
Cefalexin Keflex of bacterial cell walls.

Dr. Jaydip Mulik ( M.V.Sc. DCT, MBA) Page 1

 Cephalosporins (Second generation)
Cefaclor Distaclor

Cefamandole
Mandol  Gastrointestinal upset and Same mode of action
(discontinued) diarrhea as other beta-lactam
Less gram positive cover,  Nausea (if alcohol taken
Mefoxin antibiotics: disrupt
Cefoxitin improved gram negative concurrently)
(discontinued) the synthesis of the
cover.
Cefprozil Cefzil  Allergic reactions peptidoglycan layer
of bacterial cell walls.
Ceftin, Zinnat
Cefuroxime
(UK)

Cephalosporins (Third generation)

Cefixime Suprax
Cefdinir Omnicef, Cefdiel
Cefditoren Spectracef
Cefobid  Gastrointestinal upset and Same mode of action
Cefoperazone
(discontinued) Improved coverage of Gram diarrhea as other beta-lactam
Cefotaxime Claforan negative organisms, except  Nausea (if alcohol taken antibiotics: disrupt
Cefpodoxime Vantin Pseudomonas. Reduced concurrently) the synthesis of the
Ceftazidime Fortaz Gram positive cover.  Allergic reactions peptidoglycan layer
of bacterial cell walls.
Ceftibuten Cedax
Cefizox
Ceftizoxime
(discontinued)
Ceftriaxone Rocephin

Cephalosporins (Fourth generation)

 Gastrointestinal upset and Same mode of action
diarrhea as other beta-lactam
Covers pseudomonal  Nausea (if alcohol taken antibiotics: disrupt
Cefepime Maxipime concurrently)
infections. the synthesis of the
 Allergic reactions peptidoglycan layer
of bacterial cell walls.

Cephalosporins (Fifth generation)

 Gastrointestinal upset and as other beta-lactam
diarrhea
Ceftaroline fosamil Teflaro Used to treat MRSA
 Allergic reaction
 Gastrointestinal upset and
diarrhea
 Nausea (if alcohol taken
Ceftobiprole Zeftera Used to treat MRSA concurrently)
 Allergic reactions
Same mode of action
antibiotics: disrupt
the synthesis of the
peptidoglycan layer
of bacterial cell walls.
Same mode of action
as other beta-lactam
antibiotics: disrupt
the synthesis of the
peptidoglycan layer
of bacterial cell walls.

Glycopeptides
Teicoplanin Targocid (UK) Active against aerobic and inhibiting
Vancomycin Vancocin anaerobic Gram positive peptidoglycan

Dr. Jaydip Mulik ( M.V.Sc. DCT, MBA) Page 2

 bacteria including MRSA; synthesis
Vancomycin is used orally
Telavancin Vibativ
for the treatment of C.
difficile

Lincosamides
Clindamycin Cleocin Serious staph-, pneumo-,
Bind to 50S subunit
and streptococcal infections
of bacterial
in penicillin-allergic Possible C. difficile-related
ribosomal RNA
Lincomycin Lincocin patients, also anaerobic pseudomembranous enterocolitis
thereby inhibiting
infections; clindamycin
protein synthesis
topically for acne

Lipopeptide
Bind to the
membrane and cause
rapid depolarization,
resulting in a loss of
Daptomycin Cubicin Gram-positive organisms
membrane potential
leading to inhibition
of protein, DNA and
RNA synthesis

Macrolides
Zithromax,
Azithromycin Sumamed,
Xithrone
 Nausea, vomiting, and
Clarithromycin Biaxin Streptococcal infections, inhibition of bacterial
diarrhea (especially at
syphilis, upper respiratory protein biosynthesis
Dynabac higher doses)
Dirithromycin tract infections, lower by binding reversibly
(discontinued)  Prolonged QT interval to the subunit 50S of
respiratory tract infections, (especially erythromycin)
Erythocin, mycoplasmal infections, the bacterial
Erythromycin  Jaundice
Erythroped Lyme disease ribosome, thereby
Roxithromycin inhibiting
translocation of
Tao
Troleandomycin peptidyl tRNA.
(discontinued)
Telithromycin Ketek Pneumonia Visual Disturbance, Liver Toxicity.[4]
Spiramycin Rovamycine Mouth infections

Monobactams
Same mode of action
as other beta-lactam
antibiotics: disrupt
Aztreonam Azactam
the synthesis of the
peptidoglycan layer
of bacterial cell walls.

Dr. Jaydip Mulik ( M.V.Sc. DCT, MBA) Page 3

 Nitrofurans
Bacterial or protozoal
Furazolidone Furoxone
diarrhea or enteritis
Macrodantin,
Nitrofurantoin Urinary tract infections
Macrobid

Oxazolidonones

 Thrombocytopenia
Linezolid Zyvox VRSA  Peripheral neuropathy

Phase II clinical Protein synthesis

Posizolid inhibitor; prevents
trials
the initiation step
Phase II clinical
Radezolid
trials
Phase II clinical
Torezolid
trials

Penicillins
Amoxicillin Novamox, Amoxil
Principen
Ampicillin
(discontinued)
Azlocillin
Geocillin
Carbenicillin
(discontinued)
Tegopen
Cloxacillin
(discontinued)
Dynapen
Dicloxacillin
(discontinued)
Floxapen (Sold to
European
Flucloxacillin
generics Actavis  Gastrointestinal upset and
Group) diarrhea Same mode of action
Mezlin Wide range of infections;  Allergy with serious as other beta-lactam
Mezlocillin penicillin used for antibiotics: disrupt
(discontinued) anaphylactic reactions
streptococcal infections, the synthesis of the
Staphcillin syphilis, and Lyme disease
 Brain and kidney damage
peptidoglycan layer
Methicillin (rare)
(discontinued) of bacterial cell walls.
Unipen
Nafcillin
(discontinued)
Prostaphlin
Oxacillin
(discontinued)
Pentids
Penicillin G
(discontinued)
Veetids (Pen-Vee-
Penicillin V
K) (discontinued)
Pipracil
Piperacillin
(discontinued)
Penicillin G Pfizerpen
Negaban (UK)
Temocillin
(discontinued)
Ticar
Ticarcillin
(discontinued)

Dr. Jaydip Mulik ( M.V.Sc. DCT, MBA) Page 4

 Penicillin combinations
Amoxicillin/clavulanate Augmentin The second
Ampicillin/sulbactam Unasyn component prevents
bacterial resistance
Piperacillin/tazobactam Zosyn
to the first
Ticarcillin/clavulanate Timentin component

Polypeptides
Inhibits isoprenyl
pyrophosphate, a
molecule that carries
the building blocks of
Bacitracin
the peptidoglycan
bacterial cell wall
outside of the inner
membrane [5]
Colistin Coly-Mycin-S Eye, ear or bladder Interact with the
infections; usually applied gram negative
directly to the eye or bacterial outer
inhaled into the lungs; membrane and
rarely given by injection, cytoplasmic
Kidney and nerve damage (when membrane. It
although the use of
given by injection) displaces bacterial
intravenous colistin is
experiencing a resurgence counter ions, which
due to the emergence of destabilizes the outer
multi drug resistant membrane. They act
Polymyxin B organisms. like a detergent
against the
cytoplasmic
membrane, which
alters its
permeability.
Polymyxin B and E
are bactericidal even
in an isosmotic
solution.

Quinolones
Cipro, Ciproxin,
Ciprofloxacin
Ciprobay
Enoxacin Penetrex
Urinary tract infections,
Gatifloxacin Tequin
bacterial prostatitis, inhibit the bacterial
Levofloxacin Levaquin community-acquired DNA gyrase or the
Lomefloxacin Maxaquin pneumonia, bacterial Nausea (rare), irreversible damage topoisomerase IV
Moxifloxacin Avelox diarrhea, mycoplasmal to central nervous system enzyme, thereby
infections, gonorrhea (uncommon), tendinosis (rare) inhibiting DNA
Nalidixic acid NegGram
Norfloxacin Noroxin replication and
transcription.
Ofloxacin Floxin, Ocuflox
Trovafloxacin Trovan Withdrawn
Grepafloxacin Raxar Withdrawn
Sparfloxacin Zagam Withdrawn

Dr. Jaydip Mulik ( M.V.Sc. DCT, MBA) Page 5

Temafloxacin Omniflox Withdrawn

Sulfonamides
Mafenide Sulfamylon Folate synthesis
Sulfonamidochrysoidine inhibition. They are
Prontosil competitive
(archaic)
inhibitors of the
Sulamyd, Bleph-
Sulfacetamide enzyme
10
dihydropteroate
Sulfadiazine Micro-Sulfon  Nausea, vomiting, and
synthetase, DHPS.
diarrhea
Silver sulfadiazine Silvadene DHPS catalyses the
Urinary tract infections  Allergy (including skin conversion of PABA
Sulfamethizole Thiosulfil Forte rashes)
(except sulfacetamide, used (para-
Sulfamethoxazole Gantanol for eye infections, and  Crystals in urine aminobenzoate) to
Sulfanilimide (archaic) mafenide and silver  Kidney failure dihydropteroate, a
Sulfasalazine Azulfidine sulfadiazine, used topically  Decrease in white blood key step in folate
for burns) cell count synthesis. Folate is
Sulfisoxazole Gantrisin
 Sensitivity to sunlight necessary for the cell
to synthesize nucleic
acids (nucleic acids
Trimethoprim- are essential building
Sulfamethoxazole (Co- Bactrim, Septra blocks of DNA and
trimoxazole) (TMP-SMX) RNA), and in its
absence cells will be
unable to divide.

Tetracyclines
Demeclocycline Declomycin  Gastrointestinal upset
Doxycycline Vibramycin  Sensitivity to sunlight inhibiting the binding
Syphilis, chlamydial  Potential toxicity to mother
Minocycline Minocin of aminoacyl-tRNA to
infections, Lyme disease, and fetus during pregnancy
Oxytetracycline Terramycin the mRNA-ribosome
mycoplasmal infections,
acne rickettsial infections,
 Enamel hypoplasia complex. They do so
(staining of teeth; mainly by binding to
*malaria *Note: Malaria is
Sumycin, potentially permanent) the 30S ribosomal
caused by a protist and not
Tetracycline Achromycin V,  transient depression of subunit in the mRNA
a bacterium.
Steclin bone growth translation complex.

Drugs against mycobacteria

Clofazimine Lamprene Antileprotic
Dapsone Avlosulfon Antileprotic
Capreomycin Capastat Antituberculosis
Antituberculosis, urinary
Cycloserine Seromycin
tract infections
Ethambutol Myambutol Antituberculosis
Inhibits peptide
Ethionamide Trecator Antituberculosis
synthesis
Isoniazid I.N.H. Antituberculosis
Pyrazinamide Aldinamide Antituberculosis
Binds to the β
Rifadin, mostly Gram-positive and Reddish-orange sweat, tears, and subunit of RNA
Rifampicin (Rifampin in US)
Rimactane mycobacteria urine polymerase to inhibit
transcription
Mycobacterium avium
Rifabutin Mycobutin rash, discolored urine, GI symptoms
complex
Rifapentine Priftin Antituberculosis

Dr. Jaydip Mulik ( M.V.Sc. DCT, MBA) Page 6

 As other
Streptomycin Antituberculosis Neurotoxicity, ototoxicity
aminoglycosides

Others
Spirochaetal infections
Arsphenamine Salvarsan
(obsolete)
meningitis, MRSA, topical Inhibits bacterial
use, or for low cost internal protein synthesis by
Chloramphenicol Chloromycetin treatment. Historic: typhus, Rarely: aplastic anemia. binding to the 50S
cholera. gram negative, subunit of the
gram positive, anaerobes ribosome
Inactivates
enolpyruvyl
Fosfomycin Monurol Acute cystitis in women transferase, thereby
blocking cell wall
synthesis
Fusidic acid Fucidin
Produces toxic free
radicals which
disrupt DNA and
Infections caused by proteins. This non-
Discolored urine, headache, metallic
anaerobic bacteria; also specific mechanism
Metronidazole Flagyl taste, nausea ; alcohol is
amoebiasis, trichomoniasis, is responsible for its
contraindicated
Giardiasis activity against a
variety of bacteria,
amoebae, and
protozoa.
Inhibits isoleucine t-
RNA synthetase
Ointment for impetigo,
Mupirocin Bactroban (IleRS) causing
cream for infected cuts
inhibition of protein
synthesis
Platensimycin
Quinupristin/Dalfopristin Synercid
A chloramphenicol
analog. May inhibit
Gram-negative, Gram-
bacterial protein
Thiamphenicol positive, anaerobes. widely Lacks known anemic side-effects.
synthesis by binding
used in veterinary medicine.
to the 50S subunit of
the ribosome
Tigecycline Tigacyl
upset stomach, bitter taste, and
Tinidazole Tindamax Fasigyn protozoan infections
itchiness

Proloprim,
Trimethoprim Urinary Tract Infections
Trimpex

Dr. Jaydip Mulik ( M.V.Sc. DCT, MBA) Page 7

 1st generation ( Quinolones)
cinoxacin (Cinobac) (Removed from clinical use) [61]
flumequine (Flubactin) (Genotoxic carcinogen)(Veterinary use)
nalidixic acid (NegGam, Wintomylon)[61] (Genotoxic carcinogen)
oxolinic acid (Uroxin) (Currently unavailable in the United States)
piromidic acid (Panacid) (Currently unavailable in the United States)
pipemidic acid (Dolcol) (Currently unavailable in the United States)
rosoxacin (Eradacil) (Restricted use, currently unavailable in the United States)
2nd generation ( Quinolones)
The 2nd generation class is sometimes subdivided into "Class 1" and "Class 2".[62]
ciprofloxacin (Ciprobay, Cipro, Ciproxin)[61][63]
enoxacin (Enroxil, Penetrex)[61] (Removed from clinical use)
fleroxacin (Megalone, Roquinol) (Removed from clinical use)
lomefloxacin (Maxaquin)[61](Discontinued in the United States)
nadifloxacin (Acuatim, Nadoxin, Nadixa) (Currently unavailable in the United States)
norfloxacin (Lexinor, Noroxin, Quinabic, Janacin)[61](restricted use)[64]
ofloxacin (Floxin, Oxaldin, Tarivid)[61] (Discontinued in the United States)
pefloxacin (Peflacine) (Currently unavailable in the United States)
rufloxacin (Uroflox) (Currently unavailable in the United States)
3rd generation ( Quinolones)
Unlike the first and second generation, the third generation is active against streptococci. [62]
balofloxacin (Baloxin) (Currently unavailable in the United States)
gatifloxacin (Tequin) (Zymar) (removed from clinical use)[65] Sometimes reported as 4th generation.[63][66]
grepafloxacin (Raxar) (Removed from clinical use)
levofloxacin (Cravit, Levaquin)[61][63]
moxifloxacin (Avelox,Vigamox)[61](restricted use).[67] Sometimes reported as 4th generation.[63][68]
pazufloxacin (Pasil, Pazucross) (Currently unavailable in the United States)
sparfloxacin (Zagam)[61](restricted use),[69]
temafloxacin (Omniflox) (Removed from clinical use)[70]
tosufloxacin (Ozex, Tosacin) (Currently unavailable in the United States)
4th generation ( Quinolones)
clinafloxacin [63](Currently unavailable in the United States)
gemifloxacin (Factive)
sitafloxacin (Gracevit) (Currently unavailable in the United States)
trovafloxacin (Trovan) (Removed from clinical use)[61][63]
prulifloxacin (Quisnon) (Currently unavailable in the United States)
In development ( Quinolones)
garenoxacin (Geninax)(Application withdrawn due to toxicity issues)
ecinofloxacin[71]
delafloxacin

List of sulfonamides
Antibiotics / Dihydropteroate synthetase inhibitors
Short-acting
Sulfaisodimidine
Sulfanilamides
Intermediate-acting
Sulfadiazine
Sulfamethoxazole (SMX)
Long-acting
Sulfadimethoxine
Sulfamethoxypyridazine (SMP)
Ungrouped
Sulfacetamide
Sulfadoxine

Dr. Jaydip Mulik ( M.V.Sc. DCT, MBA) Page 8