Medical Microbiology

ThePrinciplesofAntibioticTherapy 191

Table3. 4 Continued:FrequentlyUsedAnti-InfectiveAgents

Class/activesubstance Remarks

Ethambutol Onlyagainsttuberculosisbacteria

Fosfomycin Broadspectrum,bactericidaleffectinbacterial

celldivisionphase;blocksmureinbiosynthesis;

rapiddevelopmentofresistance;usein

combinationtherapy

Fusidicacid Steroidantibiotic;onlyagainstGram-positive

bacteria;bacteriostatic;blocksproteinbiosynthesis

(translation);developmentofresistanceisfrequent

Glycopeptides

vancomycin

teicoplanin

NarrowspectrumincludingonlyGram-positive

bacteria;moderatebactericidalefficacyduring

bacterialcelldivisionphase;blocksmureinbio-

synthesis;nephrotoxicity,allergy,thrombophlebitis

Isonicotinamides

isoniazid(INH)

Onlyagainsttuberculosisbacteria,inhibitionof

enzymesrequiringpyridoxalorpyridoxamineasa

coenzyme

Lincosamides

lincomycin,clindamycin EffectiveagainstGram-positivebacteriaand

Gram-negativeanaerobes;goodpenetrationinto

bonetissue

Macrolides/ketolides

erythromycin,roxithromycin,

clarithromycin,azithromycin

AgainstGram-positiveandGram-negativecocci,

chlamydias,andmycoplasmas

telithromycin Ketolide;effectiveagainstmanymacrolide-

resistantstrains

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