Pharmacology of Macrolides - Erythromycin, Clarithromycin & Azithromycin [ENGLISH] by Dr. Shikha Parmar
Antibiotics can be defined as pharmacological agents that selectively kill or inhibit the growth of bacterial cells while having little or no effect on the mammalian host. Bacteriostatic antibiotics prevent further replication of bacteria and therefore rely on an intact immune system to clear the infection, whereas bactericidal antibiotics kill the bacteria. Types of Antimicrobial therapy-
Selection of antibiotics depends on many factors such as-
1. Identity of microorganism = Sample of Body Fluid and Staining Techniques
2. Antimicrobial susceptibility = Bacteriostatic and bactericidal along with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)
3. Site of Infection (BBB)= Lipid solubility along with molecular weight and plasma protein binding of drugs
4. Patient-related factors- Immune system, Renal dysfunction, Hepatic dysfunction along with poor perfusion and state of pregnancy and lactation
5. Safety of antimicrobial or antibiotics
6. Cost of antibiotic therapy
7. Route of drug administration- oral, topical, or parenteral
Basic Classification of antibiotics-
1. Chemical Structure- Sulphonamides, Diaminopyramidines, Quinolones, Beta-lactam antibiotics, tetracycline, nitrobenzene derivatives, aminoglycosides, macrolides, lincosamide antibiotics, Glycopeptide antibiotics, Oxazolidione antibiotics, polypeptide antibiotics, nicotinic acid derivatives, azole derivative, Other antibiotics
2. Types of the organism which they are used
A. Antibacterial chemotherapy, the use of antibacterial drugs to treat bacterial infections
B. Antifungal chemotherapy, the use of antifungal drugs to treat fungal infections
C. Anthelminthic chemotherapy, the use of anthelminthic drugs to treat worm infections
D. Antiprotozoal chemotherapy, the use of antiprotozoal drugs to treat protozoan infections
E. Antiviral chemotherapy, the use of antiviral drugs to treat viral infections
3. The spectrum of activity- Broad and narrow spectrum
4. Types of action- Bacteriostatic of bactericidal
5. Source of antibiotics- Fungal, bacteria, Actinomycetes
Description Source: Wikipedia
