Quick Review Cards for Medical Laboratory Science

Major Classes of Antibioticscontinued Clinical Microbiology Review 226

REPRESENTATIVE

CLASS ANTIBIOTICS MODE OF ACTION SPECTRUM OF ACTIVITY OTHER

Sulfonamides

Quinolones

MRSA = methicillin-resistant S. aureus; VRE = vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus.

Bacteriostatic. Used primarily

for UTI.

Used to treat serious infections.

Bactericidal. Ciprofloxacin used

for anthrax.

Inhibit folic acid synthesis

Inhibit DNA synthesis

Sulfamethoxazole

(SMZ), trimethoprim

(TMP)

Ciprofloxacin, lev-

ofloxacin, ofloxacin

Broad spectrum of activity

against Enterobacteriaceae.

Broad spectrum.