Drugs for Infectious Diseases - RRCM 1029

amoxicillin

A penicillin-class antibiotic prescribed to treat a wide range of bacterial infections by killing bacteria and stopping their cell wall formation. Some use cases include ENT, respiratory, urinary, and skin infections. Commonly administered orally.

Brand name: Amoxil

penicillin

A narrow-spectrum beta-lactum antibiotic prescribed to treat specific bacterial infections by destroying the bacterial cell wall. Some use cases are for strep throat, skin and soft tissue infections, and severe or systemic infections. Can be administered orally or parenterally.

Brand name: PenVK

amoxicillin/clavulanate

A combination broad-spectrum penicillin antibiotic prescribed to treat bacterial infections that have become resistant to standard amoxicillin. Usually adminstered orally, intravenously in severe cases.

Brand name: Clavulin

cefazolin

A first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections. Usually given as an intravenous (IV) or an intramuscular (IM) injection into a large muscle.

Brand name: Ancef

cephalexin

A first-generation cephalosporin antibiotic prescribed to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections such as for the respiratory tract, skin, and ears. Usual administration is oral.

Brand name: Keflex

cefprozil

A second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic that treats respiratory, ear, and skin/soft tissue infections. Usually taken orally, is absorbed well through the GI tract and can be taken w/ or w/o food.

Brand name: Cefzil

cefuroxime

A second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic used to treat various bacterial infections such as respiratory, ear, and skin infections. Administered orally or parenterally.

Brand name: Ceftin

cefixime

A third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic prescribed to treat specific bacterial infections of the urinary tract, ear, and reproductive system. It is usually taken orally.

Brand name: Suprax

azithromycin

A macrolide antibiotic that stops growth of bacteria, commonly used for respiratory, ear, skin, and sexually transmitted infections. Usually taken orally. Administered through IV for severe infections, such as hospital-treated pneumonia.

Brand name: Zithromax

clarithromycin

A macrolide antibiotic that treats and prevents specific bacterial infections, including respiratory tract infections, skin conditions, and stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori. Usually taken orally, administered through IV in severe cases.

Brand name: Biaxin

erythromycin base

A macrolide antibiotic used to treat specific bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, skin, and reproductive organs. Usually taken orally, works best when taken on an empty stomach.

Brand name: Eryc

erythromycin ethylsuccinate

An oral macrolide antibiotic ester prescribed to treat mild to moderate bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, skin, and soft tissues. Can be taken w/ or w/o food.

Brand name: EES

fidaxomicin

A narrow-spectrium macrolide (macrocyclic) antibiotic prescribed specifically to treat diarrhea and infections of the colon caused by Clostridioides difficile. Usually taken orally.

Brand name: Dificid

clindamycin

A lincosamide antibiotic used to treat serious bacterial infections caused by susceptible anaerobic bacteria and aerobic gram-positive organisms. Commonly adminstered orally (as capsules) or parenterally.

Brand name: Dalacin

silver sulfadiazine

A topical antimicrobial cream (sulfonamide) prescribed to prevent and treat wound infections with serious second and third degree burns. Cannot cure deep infections.

Brand name: Flamazine

sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim

A combination prescription oral antibiotic used to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections and specialized opportunistic conditions (weak immune systems). Patients are instructed to stay hydrated when taking to prevent kidney stones/crystal formation.

Brand name: Septra

ciprofloxacin

A fluoroquinolone antibiotic prescribed to treat a broad range of serious bacterial infections by killing bacteria and stopping replication. Some of its primary use are for UTIs and GI infections. Usually taken orally, but is also available topically and intravenously.

Brand names: Cipro, Ciloxan

moxifloxacin

A fluoroquinolone antibiotic prescribed to treat serious bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, skin, and eyes by stopping replication. Usually taken orally or intravenously, but also taken ophthalmically (eye drops) for localized eye infections.

Brand names: Avelox, Vigamox

norfloxacin

A fluoroquinolone antibioitic prescribed primarily to treat bacterial infections of the urinary tract and prostate. Commonly taken orally via tablets, but also taken as eye drops for superficial eye infections.

Brand name: Norflox

ofloxacin

A fluoroquinolone antibiotic prescribed to treat a wide variety of bacterial infections by stopping replication. Usual routes of administration are oral, intravenous, and topical (ear or eye drops), depending on type/severity of the infection.

Brand name: Ocuflox

rifampin

A rifamycin-class antibiotic prescribed primarily to treat tuberculosis and specific bacteria that can cause meningitis. Usually taken orally, also available intravenously.

Brand name: Rofact

metronidazole (oral)

An antibiotic/antiprotozoal oral medication used to treat various bacterial and parasitic infections such as bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis.

Brand name: Flagyl (discontinued)

metronidazole (topical)

A prescription antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory medication used primarily to treat inflammatory lesions caused by rosacea.

Brand names: Nidagel, Noritate

fosfomycin

A broad-spectrum oral antibiotic prescribed primarily to treat uncomplicated lower urinary tract infections in women. Typically taken as a single-dose powder or granules mixed with water.

Brand name: Monurol

fusidic acid

A topical antibiotic used primarily to treat staphylococcal bacterial infections of the skin and eyes. Less common routes of administration are orally and intravenously.

Brand names: Fucidin, Fucithalmic

oseltamivir

An antiviral prescription used to treat and prevent infections caused by influenza A and B viruses. Usually taken orally.

Brand name: Tamiflu

acyclovir

An antiviral prescription used to treat and manage infections caused by herpes simplex and varicella-zoster viruses (chickenpox/shingles). Taken orally, intravenously, or topically.

Brand name: Zovirax

famciclovir

An oral antiviral prescription used to treat and manage infections caused by specific herpes viruses. Can be taken w/ or w/o food.

Brand name: Famvir

valacyclovir

An oral antiviral prescripion that is converted into acyclovir inside the body (prodrug). Available as tablets or oral suspensions.

Brand name: Valatrex

clotrimazole

An imidazole antifungal medication used to treat a wide variety of fungal and yeast infections of the skin, vagina, and mouth. Usual routes are topical, intravaginal, and oral/transmucosal.

Brand names: Canesten, Clotrimaderm

fluconazole

A triazole antifungal medication used to treat and prevent a wide variety of fungal and yeast infections. Typically administered orally, also intravenously in severe cases.

Brand names: CanesOral, Diflucan

itraconazole

A triazole antifungal medication used to treat both serious systemic fungal infections and stubborn superficial skin or nail fungal conditions. Administered orally, intravenously in severe cases.

Brand name: Sporanox

ketoconazole

An azole antifungal medication used primarily as a topical treatment for fungal skin infections and dandruff. Occasionally adminstered orally for advanced endocrine disorders/severe infections.

Brand names: Ketoderm, Nizoral

miconazole

An azole antifungal medication used to treat a wide variety of fungal and yeast infections of the skin, vagina, and mouth. Available topically, vaginally, and orally (less common).

Brand names: Micotin, Monistat

efinaconazole

A prescription azole antifungal solution used topically to exclusively treat fungal infections of the fingernails and toenails (onychomycosis).

Brand name: Jublia

nystatin

A polyene antifungal medication used primarily to treat yeast infections caused by Candida species on the skin, inside the mouth, or within the digestive tract. Usually administered orally, topically, or vaginally.

Brand name: Nyaderm

terbinafine

An allylamine antifungal medication used to treat fungal infections of the skin, scalp, and nails. Usually administered orally or topically.

Brand name: Lamisil

ciclopirox

A pyridone antinfungal medication used to treat superficial fungal infections of the skin, scalp, and nails. Only available topically (cream, shampoo, nail lacquer, etc.).

Brand names: Loprox, Penlac, Stieprox