Antimicrobial Types

inhibitors of cell wall synthesis

beta-lactams

glycopeptides

bacitracin

plasma membrane damage

polymyxins

protein synthesis inhibitors

tetracyclines

aminoglycosides

fusidic acid

chloramphenicol

MLS (macrolides/lincosamides/streptogramins)

linezolid

DNA damage

fluoroquinolones

rifampicin

metronidazole

inhibit folate metabolism

sulphonamides

trimethoprim

examples of beta-lactams

penicillins (penicillin G, methicillin, aminopenicillin, carboxypenicillin)

cephalosporins (cephalexin, cefuroxime, cefovecin, cefquinome)

carbapenems (imipenem, meropenem)

examples of glycopeptides

vancomycin

teicoplanin

what is special about glycopeptides, carbapenems and cefquinone

they are considered highly valued and reserved for human medicine

what is special about 3rd generation cephalosporins — cefovecin

considered 2nd line antimicrobials for animal medicine ie only in dire situations

examples of quinolones

early quinolones — nalidixic acid

fluoroquinolones

what is special about fluoroquinolones

considered 2nd line antimicrobials in companion animals

examples of phenicols

chloramphenicol

florfenicol

examples of tetracyclines

tetracycline

oxytetracycline

doxycycline

widespread resistance now common

examples of aminoglycosides

gentamicin

amikacin

what is special about aminoglycosides

considered 2nd line antimicrobials in companion animals

examples of macrolides/lincosamides

erythromycin

tylosin

clindamycin

examples of sulphonamides

sulfadiazine

examples of trimethoprim

trimethoprim

examples of nitroimidazoles

metronidazole — narrow spectrum, only works against obligate anaerobes and some microaerophilic bacteria

aerobic cells don’t have electron transport proteins required to activate drug intracellularly

what is special about nitroimidazoles

use is not restricted in animals but are very important in human medicine