Tag: resistance

A Brief Overview of Classes of Antibiotics

A Guide to Different Classes of Antibiotics. Twelve different classes of antibiotic are shown in this graphic with discovery dates indicated, from approximately 1930 through to 1990. Whether the classes are bacteriostatic agents (chloramphenicol, oxazolidinones, sulfonamides, tetracyclines and macrolides) or bactericidal agents (beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, glycopeptides, quinolones, ansamycins, streptogramins and lipopeptides) is also indicated.
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When we’re suffering from a bacterial infection, a trip to the doctor to be prescribed antibiotics is commonplace. However, there is a wide range of antibiotics available, and they vary both in their usage and their mechanism of action. This graphic summarises the major classes, and also gives a brief insight into how they combat bacterial infections; we’ll also consider each of the groups in turn, as well as bacterial resistance to each.

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