What is an overview of antibiotics (Antibacterial medications)?

From the Guidelines

Antibiotics should be used judiciously, with treatment limited to bacterial infections, and only when the benefit of treatment outweighs the individual and global risks, as stated in the principles of minimum antibiotic stewardship measures 1.

Overview of Antibiotics

Antibiotics are medications that fight bacterial infections by either killing bacteria or preventing their growth. Common antibiotics include penicillins (amoxicillin), cephalosporins (cefdinir), macrolides (azithromycin), fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin), and tetracyclines (doxycycline).

Mechanism of Action and Resistance

Antibiotics work through various mechanisms: some attack bacterial cell walls (beta-lactams), others inhibit protein synthesis (macrolides, tetracyclines), and some interfere with DNA replication (fluoroquinolones). However, the overuse and misuse of antibiotics have led to a growing global concern of antibiotic resistance, making infections harder to treat 1.

Treatment Guidelines

For patients with community-acquired intra-abdominal infections (CA-IAIs), agents with a narrower spectrum of activity are preferred, while for patients with healthcare-associated infections (HA-IAIs), antibiotic regimens with broader spectra of activity are preferred 1.

• The choice of empiric antibiotic regimens should be based on the clinical condition of the patients, the individual risk for infection by resistant pathogens, and the local resistance epidemiology.
• In patients with uncomplicated IAI, such as uncomplicated appendicitis and uncomplicated cholecystitis, post-operative antibiotic therapy is not necessary if source control is adequate.
• In patients with complicated IAI undergoing an adequate source-control procedure, a short course of antibiotic therapy (3-5 d) is always recommended.

Key Considerations

• It's crucial to complete the full prescribed course even if symptoms improve to prevent antibiotic resistance.
• Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections like colds or flu.
• Side effects may include digestive issues, allergic reactions, and disruption of beneficial gut bacteria.
• Always take antibiotics exactly as prescribed, never share them, and only use them when prescribed by a healthcare provider for bacterial infections.

From the FDA Drug Label

The FDA drug label does not answer the question.

From the Research

Overview of Antibiotics

• Antibiotics are medications used to treat bacterial infections by killing or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms [(2,3,4,5)].
• There are different types of antibiotics, including broad-spectrum and narrow-spectrum antibiotics, each with its own advantages and disadvantages [(2,3)].

Types of Antibiotics

• Broad-spectrum antibiotics are effective against a wide range of bacteria, but their use can lead to the development of antibiotic resistance and disrupt the host microbiome 3.
• Narrow-spectrum antibiotics, on the other hand, target specific types of bacteria and can help mitigate the issues associated with broad-spectrum antibiotics 3.
• Examples of antibiotics include ceftriaxone, metronidazole, carbapenems, and clindamycin [(2,4,5)].

Antibiotic Resistance

• Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern, and the overuse or misuse of antibiotics can contribute to the development of resistant bacteria [(3,4,5)].
• The use of narrow-spectrum antibiotics and the development of new antibiotics can help address the issue of antibiotic resistance 3.

Treatment of Infections

• The treatment of infections, including anaerobic infections, requires the use of effective antibiotics and may involve surgical drainage and other supportive measures 4.
• The choice of antibiotic depends on the type of infection, the causative agent, and the susceptibility of the bacteria to different antibiotics [(2,4,5)].

Specific Antibiotics

• Ceftriaxone is a third-generation cephalosporin with a broad spectrum of activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria 2.
• Metronidazole is effective against anaerobic bacteria and is often used in combination with other antibiotics [(4,5)].
• Amoxicillin and clindamycin are also commonly used antibiotics, but their effectiveness can be limited by the development of resistance 5.