Broad Spectrum Antibiotics

• Targets wider number of bacteria types
• Acts on both gram negative and gram positive organisms
• Commonly used for empiric therapy when the pathogen is unknown or infection with multiple types of bacteria is suspected
• Risks include disruption of normal flora and development of antibiotic resistance

Narrow-Spectrum Antibiotics

• Effective against a specific bacteria type
• Used when infecting pathogen is known
• Reduces risk disruption of normal flora and development of antibiotic resistance
• Preferred when possible

Bactericidal Antibiotics

• Directly kills bacteria
• Preferred for immunocompromised patients such as those with diabetes, HIV, or cancer and for those who have overwhelming infections

Bactericidal Abx Agents

• Aminoglycosides
• Beta-Lactams
• Fluoroquinolones
• Metronidazole
• Most Antimycobacterial agents
• Streptogramins
• Vancomycin

Bacteriostatic Antibiotics

• Inhibit bacterial proliferation while the host's immune system does the killing

Bacteriostatic Abx Agents

• Clindamycin
• Macrolides
• Sulfonamides
• Tetracyclines