Types of antibiotics

• What are the different types of antibiotic?

  • broad spectrum
  • narrow spectrum
  • bactericidal
  • bacteriostatic
• What are broad spectrum antibiotics?

  • affect many gram positive and gram negative species
  • e.g. ampicillin and tetracycline
• What are narrow spectrum antibiotics?

  • more specific
  • e.g. penicillin G kills gram positive bacteria only
• What are bactericidal antibiotics?

  • kills bacteria
  • e.g. penicillin destroys bacterial cell walls
• What are bacteriostatic antibiotics?

  • prevents bacterial multiplication
  • do not cause death
  • bacteria resume normal function when antibiotic is not present
  • e.g. tetracycline inhibits protein synthesis