Antibiotic Classification and Coverage Chart

Antibiotic Classification and Coverage Chart

Antibiotics are essential medications used to treat bacterial infections. They are classified based on their chemical structure, mechanism of action, and spectrum of activity. This chart provides an overview of major antibiotic classes, their key representatives, and their typical coverage:

Penicillins

Representatives: Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Piperacillin

Coverage: Gram-positive bacteria, some Gram-negative bacteria

Mechanism: Inhibit cell wall synthesis

Cephalosporins

Representatives: Cefazolin (1st gen), Ceftriaxone (3rd gen), Cefepime (4th gen)

Coverage: Broad-spectrum, increasing Gram-negative coverage in higher generations

Mechanism: Inhibit cell wall synthesis

Carbapenems

Representatives: Meropenem, Imipenem

Coverage: Very broad-spectrum, including many resistant Gram-negative bacteria

Mechanism: Inhibit cell wall synthesis

Fluoroquinolones

Representatives: Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin

Coverage: Broad-spectrum, good coverage of respiratory pathogens

Mechanism: Inhibit DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV

Macrolides

Representatives: Azithromycin, Erythromycin

Coverage: Gram-positive bacteria, atypical pathogens

Mechanism: Inhibit protein synthesis by binding to 50S ribosomal subunit

Tetracyclines

Representatives: Doxycycline, Minocycline

Coverage: Broad-spectrum, including atypical pathogens

Mechanism: Inhibit protein synthesis by binding to 30S ribosomal subunit

Aminoglycosides

Representatives: Gentamicin, Tobramycin

Coverage: Primarily Gram-negative bacteria

Mechanism: Inhibit protein synthesis by binding to 30S ribosomal subunit

Glycopeptides

Representatives: Vancomycin, Teicoplanin

Coverage: Gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA

Mechanism: Inhibit cell wall synthesis

Oxazolidinones

Representative: Linezolid

Coverage: Gram-positive bacteria, including VRE and MRSA

Mechanism: Inhibit protein synthesis by binding to 50S ribosomal subunit

Polymyxins

Representative: Colistin

Coverage: Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria

Mechanism: Disrupt cell membrane

Sulfonamides and Trimethoprim

Representative: Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX)

Coverage: Broad-spectrum, including some protozoa

Mechanism: Inhibit folic acid synthesis

This chart provides a general overview, and it's important to note that specific antibiotic coverage can vary within classes and among individual drugs. Additionally, local resistance patterns and patient factors should always be considered when selecting antibiotics. Proper antibiotic stewardship, including the use of narrow-spectrum agents when appropriate and de-escalation based on culture results, is crucial for preserving antibiotic efficacy and preventing resistance.