06/07/2024
Here are some of the most common types of antibiotics ¹ ²:
- Penicillins: Another name for this class is the "beta-lactam" antibiotics. Penicillin class contains five groups of antibiotics. Common antibiotics in the penicillin class include amoxicillin and clavulanate, ampicillin, and penicillin V potassium.
- Tetracyclines: Tetracyclines are broad-spectrum against many bacteria and treat conditions such as acne, urinary tract infections (UTIs), intestinal tract infections, eye infections, and sexually transmitted diseases. The tetracycline class contains drugs such as eravacycline, minocycline, tetracycline, and Nuzyra.
- Cephalosporins: Cephalosporins are bactericidal (kill bacteria) and work in a similar way as the penicillins. Cephalosporins treat many types of infections, including strep throat, ear infections, urinary tract infections, skin infections, lung infections, and meningitis. Common medications in this class include cefadroxil, cefalexin, cefdinir, cefepime, cefiderocol, cefotaxime, cefotetan, ceftaroline, ceftriaxone, and cefuroxime.
- Fluoroquinolones: The fluoroquinolones, also known as the quinolones, are a synthetic, bactericidal antibacterial class with a broad-spectrum of activity used in adults (not children). Common drugs in the fluoroquinolone class include Cipro, delafloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and Avelox.
- Lincomycins: This class has activity against gram-positive aerobes and anaerobes (bacteria that can live without oxygen), as well as some gram-negative anaerobes. The lincomycin derivatives may be used to treat serious infections like pelvic inflammatory disease, intra-abdominal infections, lower respiratory tract infections, and bone and joint infections. These drugs include Cleocin, Clindets, Clindesse, Evoclin, lincomycin, and Lincocin.
- Macrolides: The macrolides can be used to treat community-acquired pneumonia, pertussis (whooping cough), or for uncomplicated skin infections, among other susceptible infections. Frequent
