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Which of the following is a broad spectrum drug?

Author

Olivia Shea

Updated on March 19, 2026

Which of the following is a broad spectrum drug?

Examples of broad-spectrum antibiotics
Aminoglycosides (except for streptomycin) Ampicillin. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (Augmentin) Carbapenems (e.g. imipenem)

Regarding this, which one is a broad spectrum antibiotic?

A broad-spectrum antibiotic acts against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, in contrast to a narrow-spectrum antibiotic, which is effective against specific families of bacteria. An example of a commonly used broad-spectrum antibiotic is ampicillin.

Similarly, what is a broad spectrum antibiotic quizlet? Broad Spectrum Antibiotic. Effective against a wide range of both Gram + & Gram - bacteria. Narrow Spectrum Antibiotic. Effective against a specific Gram + or Gram - bacteria. Decreases potential for superinfections and drug resistance.

Keeping this in view, is penicillin broad spectrum?

Benzylpenicillin (Penicillin G) is narrow spectrum antibiotic used to treat infections caused by susceptible bacteria. It is a natural penicillin antibiotic that is administered intravenously or intramuscularly due to poor oral absorption.

What do broad spectrum antibiotics treat?

The term "broad spectrum antibiotics" was originally used to designate antibiotics that were effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, in contrast to penicillin, which is effective chiefly against gram-positive organisms, and streptomycin, which is active primarily against gram-negative bacteria.

What is the strongest antibiotic for bacterial infection?

Drugs Used to Treat Bacterial Infection
Drug nameRx / OTCRating
levofloxacinRx4.8
Generic name: levofloxacin systemic Brand name: Levaquin Drug class: quinolones For consumers: dosage, interactions, For professionals: A-Z Drug Facts, AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information
AmoxilRx10

Are broad spectrum antibiotics good or bad?

The “broad-spectrumantibiotics used to fight infections in hospitals aren't the same as the very specific antibiotics your doctor may prescribe to treat a bacterial ear infection. Here's why that's matters: If you take the wrong medication, it won't be effective. diff, a severe and hard-to-treat infection.

What are broad spectrum penicillins?

The extended-spectrum penicillins which consist of carbenicilllin, mezlocillin, piperacillin and ticarcillin are a group of semi-synthetic penicillin antibiotics that, because of their chemical structure, have a wider spectra of activity than natural penicillins, penicillinase-resistant penicillins (e.g. nafcillin),

Are macrolides broad spectrum?

OVERVIEW. The macrolides are bacteriostatic antibiotics with a broad spectrum of activity against many gram-positive bacteria. Currently available macrolides are well tolerated, orally available and widely used to treat mild-to-moderate infections.

What was the first broad spectrum antibiotic?

Chlortetracycline, the first tetracycline to be discovered (1948), and oxytetracycline were the first broad-spectrum antibiotics that were active against Gram-negative bacteria [4, 40].

What is broad spectrum antifungal?

Whereas intravenous broad-spectrum antifungals (such as fluconazole or lipid formulations of amphotericin B) cover almost all known fungi, topical agents (such as clotrimazole) often have a limited scope of activity.

What's broad spectrum?

Definition of broad-spectrum. 1 : effective against a wide range of organisms (such as insects or bacteria) a broad-spectrum antibiotic. 2 : effective in protecting skin from ultraviolet radiation by absorbing or blocking both UVA and UVB rays broad-spectrum sunscreens.

What antibiotics are best for cystitis?

The following oral antibiotics are commonly used to treat most uncomplicated UTI infections (acute cystitis):
  • nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrobid, Macrodantin)
  • fosfomycin (Monurol)
  • sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim DS, Septra DS, others)

Is penicillin V broad or narrow spectrum?

Penicillin G and penicillin V are narrow-spectrum antibiotics, showing activity against mostly gram-positive cocci and gram-positive bacilli and gram-negative cocci. Other penicillins have an extended spectrum and greater activity against some gram-negative bacilli.

Is penicillin broad or narrow spectrum?

Narrow-spectrum antibiotics are only effective against a narrow range of bacteria. For example, penicillin G is very effective at killing gram-positive bacteria, but not very effective against gram-negative bacteria. Another reason that antibiotics can have a narrow spectrum of activity can be their target molecules.

What bacteria does penicillin kill?

Penicillin is a widely used antibiotic prescribed to treat staphylococci and streptococci bacterial infections. Penicillin belongs to the beta-lactam family of antibiotics, the members of which use a similar mechanism of action to inhibit bacterial cell growth that eventually kills the bacteria.

Is amoxicillin broad spectrum?

Amoxicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is effective against bacteria both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria [3] .

Is oxacillin a broad spectrum antibiotic?

Oxacillin is a penicillin beta-lactam antibiotic used in the treatment of bacterial infections caused by susceptible, usually gram-positive, organisms. Oxacillin is stable against hydrolysis by a variety of beta-lactamases, including penicillinases, and cephalosporinases and extended spectrum beta-lactamases.

What is a natural penicillin?

Natural Penicillins were the first antibiotics used in clinical practice. They are based on the original penicillin- G structure. Natural penicillins are effective against gram positive bacteria such as staphylococci, streptococci and gram negative bacteria such as meningococci, Treponema, Borrelia and Leptospira.

What is narrow and broad spectrum antibiotics?

Narrow-spectrum antibiotics are active against a select group of bacterial types. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are active against a wider number of bacterial types and, thus, may be used to treat a variety of infectious diseases.

Is cephalosporin broad spectrum?

Cephalosporins are broad spectrum antibiotics similar to penicillins. First generation cephalosporins include cephalexin and cefazolin. They have good activity against a wide spectrum of Gram-positive bacteria including penicillinase-producing staphylococci.

Is ofloxacin a broad spectrum antibiotic?

Ofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is active against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

What is a major disadvantage to using a broad spectrum antibiotic?

While broad spectrum antibiotics play an invaluable role in the treatment of bacterial infections, there are some drawbacks to their use, namely selection for and spread of resistance across multiple bacterial species, and the detrimental effect they can have upon the host microbiome.

What are examples of narrow spectrum antibiotics?

Examples of narrow-spectrum antibiotics are the older penicillins (penG), the macrolides and vancomycin.

What is a wide spectrum antibiotic?

A broad-spectrum antibiotic is an antibiotic that acts on the two major bacterial groups, gram-positive and gram-negative, or any antibiotic that acts against a wide range of disease-causing bacteria. An example of a commonly used broad-spectrum antibiotic is ampicillin.

What is MIC value?

In microbiology, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is the lowest concentration of a chemical, usually a drug, which prevents visible growth of a bacterium or bacteria. MIC depends on the microorganism, the affected human being (in vivo only), and the antibiotic itself.

What is the action of bactericidal drugs quizlet?

A bactericidal is an agent with the ability to kill bacteria while a bacteriostatic has the ability to inhibit the growth or reproduction of bacteria.

How do bacteria develop antibiotic resistance?

Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in some way that reduces or eliminates the effectiveness of drugs, chemicals, or other agents designed to cure or prevent infections. The bacteria survive and continue to multiply causing more harm. Antibiotics kill or inhibit the growth of susceptible bacteria.

Which of the following antibiotics causes misreading of mRNA?

4.6 Aminoglycosides
Aminoglycosides are potent bactericidal antibiotics that act by inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis, thereby binding bacterial 30S or 50S ribosomal subunit, inhibiting the translocation of the peptidyl-tRNA from the A-site to the P-site, and also causing misreading of mRNA.

What is the advantage of using amoxicillin over penicillin G?

They have advantages over penicillin that include better oral absorption (although amoxicillin is better absorbed than ampicillin in small animals), and slightly better activity against Gram-negative bacilli. They are also active against many of the anaerobic bacteria and some enterococci.

How can the use of broad spectrum antibiotics lead to negative health consequences?

Broad-spectrum antibiotics can lead to a dangerous form of diarrhea, called “C. diff.” It can require removal of the bowel. It kills about 15,000 people in the U.S. each year. Antibiotics can also cause other side effects, such as vaginal infections, nausea, and vomiting.

Is doxycycline a broad spectrum antibiotic?

Doxycycline. Doxycycline is an antibiotic used in the treatment of infections caused by bacteria and certain parasites. It is used to treat bacterial pneumonia, acne, chlamydia infections, early Lyme disease, cholera, typhus, and syphilis. Doxycycline is a broad-spectrum antibiotic, of the tetracycline class.

Why are narrow spectrum antibiotics preferred?

Narrow spectrum antibiotics are used for the specific infection when the causative organism is known and will not kill as many of the normal microorganisms in the body as the broad spectrum antibiotics. So, It has less ability to cause superinfection.

What are 3 ways antibiotics kill bacteria?

In principal, there are three main antibiotic targets in bacteria:
  • The cell wall or membranes that surrounds the bacterial cell.
  • The machineries that make the nucleic acids DNA and RNA.
  • The machinery that produce proteins (the ribosome and associated proteins)

Do antibiotics target peptidoglycan?

Antibiotics commonly target bacterial cell wall formation (of which peptidoglycan is an important component) because animal cells do not have cell walls. The final step in the synthesis of the peptidoglycan is facilitated by penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs).

Why do antibiotics target ribosomes?

The ribosome is a major bacterial target for antibiotics. Drugs inhibit ribosome function either by interfering in messenger RNA translation or by blocking the formation of peptide bonds at the peptidyl transferase centre. These effects are the consequence of the binding of drugs to the ribosomal subunits.

Is ciprofloxacin broad or narrow spectrum?

Ciprofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone class. It is active against some Gram-positive and many Gram-negative bacteria. It functions by inhibiting DNA gyrase, and a type II topoisomerase, topoisomerase IV, necessary to separate bacterial DNA, thereby inhibiting cell division.

Is Cipro a broad spectrum antibiotic?

Ciprofloxacin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic of the fluoroquinolone class. It is active against some Gram-positive and many Gram-negative bacteria. It functions by inhibiting DNA gyrase, and a type II topoisomerase, topoisomerase IV, necessary to separate bacterial DNA, thereby inhibiting cell division.

Is streptomycin broad or narrow spectrum?

At low concentrations, however, streptomycin only inhibits growth of the bacteria by inducing prokaryotic ribosomes to misread mRNA. Streptomycin is an antibiotic that inhibits both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and is therefore a useful broad-spectrum antibiotic.