What are the most common types of antibiotics?
Antibiotics are influential medicines that treat bacterial infections. They either kill the bacteria or slow down their growth. Some common types of antibiotics include penicillin and macrolides. Different antibiotics use different methods to damage bacteria and treat the infection effectively.
What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are powerful medicines that treat bacterial infections and, when used properly, save lives. They also help prevent bacteria from reproducing or destroying themselves.
Your immune system can kill harmful bacteria before they multiply and cause symptoms. White blood cells attack harmful bacteria; even if symptoms occur, the immune system can cope and fight against infection.
However, there are times when harmful bacteria in your body are excessive, and your immune system cannot clear them. This is when antibiotics are required.
The first antibiotic was penicillin. Penicillin-based antibiotics, such as Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, and Penicillin G, treat various infections and are often prescribed by doctors.
You should know that several types of antibiotics are available with a prescription. Meanwhile, topical antibiotics are available in over-the-counter (OTC) creams and ointments.
Doctors prescribe different antibiotics to treat conditions like bronchitis, strep throat, and inner ear infections. However, antibiotics do not treat viral infections like colds and flu.
The most common types of antibiotics
Here are some common types of antibiotics prescribed by the doctors:
Penicillin
Penicillin is a common treatment for different bacterial skin disorders. It also effectively treats kidney, middle ear, and blood infections. Doctors also prescribe penicillin antibiotics to treat Staphylococci and Streptococci infections. However, some bacteria are resistant to penicillin when overused.
Common penicillin antibiotics include:
- Dicloxacillin
- Phenoxymethylpenicillin
- Ampicillin
- Amoxicillin with clavulanic acid
- Oxacillin
- Nafcillin
- Penicillin V
- Penicillin G
Side effects of penicillin antibiotics include:
- Liver disorder
- Nausea
- Yeast infection
- Abdominal discomfort
- Headache
- Diarrhea
Some medicines, such as oral contraceptives and anti-inflammatories like aspirin and probenecid, might interact with penicillin.
Cephalosporins
Generally, doctors prescribe Cephalosporins to people who are allergic to penicillin. They work the same way as penicillin and prevent the bacterial cells from forming sturdy walls.
Cephalosporins are prescribed to treat skin infections, meningitis, cellulitis, abscesses, and bacteria resistant to other antibiotics. Some cephalosporins are highly effective against severe bacterial infections like Septicemia.
Some common Cephalosporins include:
- Cefixime
- Cefaclor
- Cefadroxil
- Cephalexin
- Cefazolin
- Cefuroxime
- Cefoxitin
Potential side effects of Cephalosporins include:
- Belly pain
- Nausea
- Appetite loss
- Vomiting
Tetracyclines
Tetracyclines are a group of antibiotics that treat different types of bacterial infections. They have anti-inflammatory properties and are prescribed to treat chest, pelvic, and urethral infections, traveller's diarrhoea, and syphilis. Doctors can also prescribe Tetracyclines to treat inflammatory skin disorders like rosacea, acne, and perioral dermatitis.
Common tetracycline antibiotics include:
- Minocycline
- Doxycycline
- Sarecycline
Pregnant or breastfeeding women and children below 12 years of age should not use tetracyclines as they can experience stains on their teeth.
Other potential side effects of tetracycline include:
- Nausea
- Photosensitivity
- Abdominal pain and discomfort
- Vomiting
- Anorexia
It is advised not to take tetracycline antibiotics with diuretics as they can increase your risk of experiencing kidney toxicity.
Macrolides
Macrolide antibiotics are the safest option for people allergic to cephalosporin or penicillin. Like tetracyclines, Macrolides also obstruct the production of proteins from bacteria. Doctors often prescribe macrolides to treat various bacterial infections, such as pneumonia, skin infections, chlamydial infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, ear infections, skin infections, tonsillitis, and Helicobacter pylori infections.
However, doctors consider Macrolide antibiotics the first treatment choice for atypical pneumonia.
Some common macrolides include:
- Erythromycin
- Azithromycin
- Clarithromycin
Potential side effects of macrolide antibiotics include:
- Hearing loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
Fluoroquinolones
Fluoroquinolones, or quinolones, fight against bacterial infections, which are difficult to treat and dangerous. However, Fluoroquinolones are also linked with antimicrobial resistance. Unless necessary, you should not take Fluoroquinolones.
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are the first-line treatment for prostatitis, severe shigellosis, and salmonellosis. Doctors can also prescribe them to treat gonorrhoea, epididymal orchitis, and tuberculosis. They are also effective in treating eye, urinary tract, and ear bacterial infections.
Common fluoroquinolone antibiotics include:
- Ofloxacin
- Ciprofloxacin
- Moxifloxacin
- Levofloxacin
Potential side effects of Fluoroquinolones include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Changes in taste
- Abdominal pain
- Photosensitivity
Sulfonamides
Sulfonamides are synthetic antibiotics that prevent bacteria from using folic acid to generate DNA, further blocking bacteria's ability to reproduce. Doctors prescribe Sulfonamides to treat many bacterial infections, such as tonsillitis, meningococcal meningitis, UTIs, E. coli infections, infected burns, bacillary dysentery, eye and skin infections, and Septicemia.
Types of Sulfonamides available include:
- Sulfadiazine silver
- Sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim
- Sulfasalazine
- Sulfacetamide
Sulfonamide antibiotics should not be taken during pregnancy as they increase the risk of pregnancy loss.
Potential side effects of Sulfonamides include:
- Anorexia
- Candidiasis
- Jaundice in newborns
- Headache
- Hyperkalaemia
- Folate deficiency
Summary
Thus, you should take antibiotics only when required to prevent antibiotic resistance. The problem of antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria survive in your body or resist antibiotic treatment. Before starting any treatment with antibiotics, you should consult the doctor once.
