11/04/2025
1. Penicillins
These are some of the oldest and most widely used antibiotics.
Amoxicillin (Amoxil) – Ear infections, throat infections, UTIs
Penicillin V – Strep throat, syphilis
Amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin) – Sinusitis, resistant infections
Cloxacillin – Skin and soft tissue infections
Piperacillin-tazobactam (Zosyn) – Severe hospital-acquired infections.
2. Cephalosporins
Divided into generations – the higher the generation, the broader the spectrum.
Cephalexin (Keflex) – Skin infections, UTIs
Cefuroxime – Sinusitis, bronchitis
Ceftriaxone (Rocephin) – Meningitis, pneumonia, gonorrhoea
Cefepime – Severe hospital infections
Ceftaroline – MRSA, community-acquired pneumonia
3. Macrolides
Great for respiratory infections and safe for penicillin-allergic patients.
Azithromycin (Zithromax) – Pneumonia, chlamydia
Erythromycin – Pertussis, acne
Clarithromycin (Biaxin) – H. pylori, sinus infections
4. Fluoroquinolones
Strong but should be used carefully due to resistance.
Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) – UTIs, typhoid
Levofloxacin – Pneumonia, sinusitis
Moxifloxacin – Eye infections, respiratory tract infections
5. Tetracyclines
Useful for unusual infections and acne.
Doxycycline – Acne, malaria, STIs
Minocycline – Respiratory infections
Tetracycline – Rickettsial infections
6. Sulfonamides
Often combined for extra power.
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Septrin, Bactrim) – UTIs, MRSA
Sulfadiazine – Toxoplasmosis (with pyrimethamine)
7. Aminoglycosides
Used for serious infections in hospitals.
Gentamicin – Sepsis, endocarditis
Amikacin – Multidrug-resistant infections
Tobramycin – Lung infections in cystic fibrosis
8. Lincosamides
Clindamycin – Dental infections, anaerobic infections, MRSA
9. Carbapenems
Reserved for drug-resistant infections.
Meropenem, Imipenem, Ertapenem – Severe infections, intra-abdominal infections
10. Nitroimidazoles
Metronidazole (Flagyl) – Bacterial vaginosis, dental infections, C. difficile
Tinidazole – Amoebiasis
