List of Antibiotics
Diseases and infections are caused due to several organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. in both humans and animals. The drug which is used in the prevention of the pathogenicity of these microorganisms is known as an antimicrobial agent. Antibiotics are known as the substances that are derived from an organism for killing another organism. These are effective against all kinds of infections including bacterial, parasitic and fungal. However, antibiotics are not very effective against viral infections.
The chemical synthesis development has significantly helped in producing synthetic components that tend to act as antimicrobial agents and attack the pathogenic bacteria. All these synthetic components are known as antibiotics. They tend to kill the pathogenic bacteria at lower concentrations. Examples of these antibiotics are amoxicillin and ampicillin.
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Types of Antibiotics
In the year 1908, a German bacteriologist named Paul Ehrlich created a synthetic component from an arsenic-based structure to treat syphilis, called salvarsan or arsphenamine.
Later, in the year 1929, Alexander Fleming had discovered Penicillin from a fungus called Penicillium notatum. Penicillin has been used ever since then in the treatment of several different kinds of bacterial infections.
There are two different kinds of antibiotics that are commonly available. They are given below:
Bactericidal Antibiotics: These types of antibiotics have a highly killing effect on the bacteria. Examples of these antibiotics are Penicillin, Ofloxacin, and Aminoglycosides.
Bacteriostatic Antibiotics: These are the types of antibiotics which have an inhibitory effect on the bacteria. Examples of these antibiotics include Tetracycline, Erythromycin, and Chloramphenicol.
Depending upon the action spectrum, antibiotics are even further divided into three different types. These are given as follows:
Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics: These are the kind of antibiotics which are widely used in killing or inhibiting the effect of both the Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. Example: Chloramphenicol.
Narrow spectrum antibiotics: These are the types of antibiotics that are highly effective against certain kinds of bacteria. Example: Penicillin G.
Limited spectrum antibiotics: These antibiotics are highly effective against one particular organism or one single disease. Example: Dysidazirine.
Antiseptics and Disinfectants
Antiseptics and disinfectants refer to the chemical components that are used in the form of antimicrobial agents.
Antiseptics have to be applied to any kinds of injured tissues, infected skin surfaces, and cuts. Antiseptics, however, are not supposed to be taken orally through the mouth. Antiseptics can be of different kinds including antibiotic cream, antibacterial cream, or antibiotics for boils. Given below are a few examples of antiseptics.
Dettol: Dettol is a mixture of terpineol and chloroxylenol. It is used on the areas of wounds.
Iodine Tincture and Iodoform: It is known to have good antiseptic properties.
Boric Acid: It is effective as an antiseptic agent to the eyes.
Disinfectants are used in destroying the pathogenic microorganisms that are present in the non-living objects, for example, drainage systems, floors, furniture, etc.
Examples: sulphur dioxide and chlorine at lower concentrations.
Antimicrobial Agents Uses
The usage of antimicrobial agents in the form of highly specific inhibitors has helped in the investigation of complicated biochemical processes. There have been different forms of antimicrobials that have been in usage for several decades. However, more customers have started to become aware of several antimicrobial treatments available for floor coverings since the past forty years or so.
Several different forms of antimicrobials that are marketed to the different carpet industries by many different firms have been regarded to contain fungi and bacteria. If we look from the scientific point of view, these carpet systems tend to use easy chemical compositions. These include organo-silanes and organometallics. Both these compounds can also be paired with each other.
List of Antibiotics
Typically, antibiotics are the medications which help in stopping the infections that are caused by bacteria. They tend to work in two different ways. They help in killing the bad bacteria that cause infections and preventing the bacteria from reproducing even more harmful bacteria. There are more than 100 different types of antibiotics, but there are only ten antibiotics which are most commonly in use.
These are:
Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin/Clavulanate
Azithromycin
Cephalexin
Clindamycin
Ciprofloxacin
Metronidazole
Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim
Levofloxacin
Doxycycline
Every kind of antibiotic is effective only for a certain type of bacterial infection, for example, a urinary tract infection or a strep throat. When a person is prescribed with an antibiotic, it is meant to treat a specific line of germs which cause the infection. They are, however, not effective in treating viral infections such as flu or cold.
FAQs on Antibiotics
1. What are antibiotics as explained in chemistry?
In chemistry, antibiotics are defined as chemical substances produced by microorganisms (like bacteria or fungi) that, in low concentrations, can inhibit the growth of or destroy other harmful microorganisms. The term now also includes synthetic compounds with similar antimicrobial properties. A prime example is Penicillin, originally derived from the fungus Penicillium notatum.
2. How are antibiotics classified based on their effect on bacteria?
Antibiotics are primarily classified into two types based on their mode of action against bacteria:
- Bactericidal antibiotics are chemicals that have a killing effect on bacteria. Examples include Penicillin, Ofloxacin, and Aminoglycosides.
- Bacteriostatic antibiotics are chemicals that have an inhibitory effect, meaning they stop the growth and reproduction of bacteria. Examples include Erythromycin, Tetracycline, and Chloramphenicol.
3. What is the difference between broad-spectrum and narrow-spectrum antibiotics?
The main difference lies in their range of activity. A broad-spectrum antibiotic, like Chloramphenicol, is effective against a wide variety of disease-causing bacteria, including both Gram-positive and Gram-negative types. In contrast, a narrow-spectrum antibiotic, such as Penicillin G, is only effective against a specific family or type of bacteria.
4. How do antibiotics fundamentally differ from antiseptics and disinfectants?
While all three are antimicrobial agents, their applications are distinct. Antibiotics are used inside the body (ingested or injected) to treat infections. Antiseptics (e.g., Dettol) are applied to living tissues like skin and wounds to prevent microbial growth. Disinfectants (e.g., chlorine solutions) are used on non-living surfaces like floors and instruments to kill microorganisms.
5. Why are antibiotics completely ineffective against viral infections like the common cold or flu?
Antibiotics are ineffective against viruses because they are designed to target specific structures and metabolic pathways found only in bacteria, such as the bacterial cell wall. Viruses lack these structures and instead replicate by taking over the host's cellular machinery. Since antibiotics cannot interfere with this process, they have no effect on viral infections.
6. What was the first synthetic antimicrobial drug, and how did it differ from the first discovered natural antibiotic?
The first synthetic antimicrobial drug was Salvarsan (Arsphenamine), an arsenic-based compound developed by Paul Ehrlich in 1908 to treat syphilis. It was man-made. The first natural antibiotic was Penicillin, discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1929 from a mould. The key difference is their origin: Salvarsan was created through chemical synthesis, while Penicillin was isolated from a living microorganism.
7. Why is it crucial for a patient to complete the full prescribed course of an antibiotic, even if they start feeling better?
Completing the full course is essential to eradicate all the invading bacteria. Stopping treatment early may kill the weaker bacteria but allow the more resilient ones to survive. These survivors can then multiply, leading to a relapse of the infection which may be harder to treat. This practice also contributes significantly to the development of antibiotic resistance.
8. What is meant by antibiotic resistance, and why is it a significant problem?
Antibiotic resistance is the phenomenon where bacteria evolve and develop the ability to survive exposure to antibiotics that were previously effective against them. It is a major global health concern because it renders standard treatments ineffective, leading to prolonged illnesses and a greater risk of death from common infections. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics are primary drivers of this dangerous trend.
