List of new generation broad-spectrum antibiotics

Antibiotics (from the other gr. anti “against” and “bios” life) are substances of natural or semi-synthetic origin that have a detrimental effect on microorganisms. Antibiotics are produced mainly by certain types of molds and some bacteria. Substances that have an antibacterial effect and are synthesized by plants are called phytoncides.

There is a group of drugs that have an antibacterial effect and their properties are very similar to antibiotics. But they do not occur in nature and were obtained synthetically. This group of drugs is called synthetic antibacterial agents. These include, in particular, sulfonamides and fluoroquinolones.

How do broad spectrum antibiotics work?

Broad spectrum antibiotics

- effective antibacterial agents, which can only be used after consultation with a doctor. Such drugs can quickly overcome pathogenic microorganisms, regardless of their type. The advantage of these drugs is that they are equally effective in treating gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Gram-positive organisms often cause infectious diseases. They often cause diseases of the ears, nasopharynx and the entire respiratory system. Such illnesses can be caused by enterococcal or staphylococcal infections, and in rare cases, listeria, clostridia or corynebacteria. Gram-negative organisms are much less common. Most often they cause abnormalities in the functioning of the intestines or genitourinary system. Indications for the use of new generation antibiotics may be:

• diagnosis of superinfections - diseases that are caused by several pathogens at once;
• long-term ineffectiveness of therapy with other drugs.

The main advantage of modern antibiotics of the latest generation is their wide spectrum of action. Now there is no need to accurately determine the type of pathogen; it is enough to identify the clinical picture of the disease.

What are broad spectrum antibiotics?

Broad-spectrum antibiotics are universal bactericidal drugs that will help get rid of many diseases. Most often they are prescribed for the treatment of various infections, the causative agent of which remains unknown. They are also prescribed if a person has become infected with a fast-growing and dangerous virus. Such drugs are indicated as prophylaxis after major surgical interventions. Remember that not all cheap drugs are so bad.

Basics of therapy for infectious diseases

Each group of antibiotics has a different spectrum of action - the ability to destroy one or another type of bacteria. Therefore, antibiotics can be broad or narrow spectrum, or with an effect on certain pathogens.

For example, benzylpenicillin is a narrow-spectrum antibiotic, and ampicillin is a broad-spectrum antibiotic. But this does not mean that benzylpenicillin is worse. If the pathogen is known, the antibiotic should be used with as narrow a spectrum as possible so as not to destroy the normal human microflora.

When the causative agent is unknown, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used, hoping to cover as many potential pathogens as possible.

Antibiotics also differ in their ability to distribute in tissues. For example, penicillins and cephalosporins are highly effective against infections of the respiratory system and soft tissue, and tetracyclines penetrate well into bone tissue and are used to treat infections of bone tissue.

Modern penicillins

Antibiotics from the penicillin group are drugs based on clavulanic acid and amoxicillin. Representatives of the new, 4, 5, 6 generations can be called Augmentin, Amoxiclav, Solutab. They help to quickly cope with any infectious processes, relieve pyelonephritis, dental abscess, otitis media, sinusitis and much more.

Penicillins are effective drugs that help quickly suppress the activity of many infections and viruses.

Such drugs are not recommended for people with sensitivity to penicillins due to possible allergic reactions that cause serious complications in the body.

Typically, penicillin antibiotics are prescribed for the following diseases:

• sinusitis;
• whooping cough;
• otitis;
• sore throat;
• bronchitis;
• pneumonia.

The effect of penicillin antibiotics may develop more slowly. However, they immediately stop the reproduction and growth of pathogenic bacteria in the body. Keep in mind that such medications can be taken no more than once a quarter.

Levomycetin is an essential broad-spectrum antibiotic

Levomycetins are popular antibiotics that help quickly cope with infectious processes. The first representatives of this group had a rather meager spectrum of action; they eliminated only a narrow range of pathogenic organisms. With the development of medicine, such drugs have become more and more effective, and their spectrum of action has expanded.

Despite their wide spectrum of action, antibiotics show the greatest effectiveness in the fight against gram-positive bacteria.

Modern chloramphenicol 2, 3 and 4 generations have an extremely broad effect. The most popular drugs are Moxifloxacin, Levofloxacin and Gatifloxacin.

With their help, you will be able to quickly overcome:

• gram-positive organisms
  : staphylococci, streptococci;
• gram-negative organisms
  : Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli, Protea, gonorrhea, Pseudomonas aeruginosa;
• into nutricellular pathogens
  : mycoplasma, chlamydia, legionella.

It should be noted that many drugs are contraindicated for children under 18 years of age. Also, elderly people should take such medications with extreme caution, since the components of the medications can damage the structure of the tendons. Be sure to keep a list of antibiotics from this group.

Features of application

In all cases where it is possible, it is necessary to identify the pathogen and prescribe an antibiotic with as narrow a spectrum of action as possible.

In all cases where it is possible to refuse antibiotic therapy, it should be abandoned. Drugs of this group are prescribed when there is a threat to life or health, or when the infectious process is prolonged and there is a threat of it becoming chronic.

The duration of the course of antibiotic therapy is determined by the doctor and depends on the type of pathogen and the severity of the infectious process, but should be at least five days. The course of treatment may be shorter in cases where the antibiotic is removed from the body for a long time. For example, azithromycin, after taking it for three days, remains in the body in a therapeutic concentration for another 2-3 days. If you do not follow the rule of at least five days of therapy, this may lead to the formation of resistance in microorganisms and it is possible that not only this antibiotic, but the entire group of this antibiotic will no longer be effective against this pathogen.

You should always remember that antibiotics are prescription drugs and are prescribed by a doctor.

Antibiotics Rifampicin

Rifampicin antibiotics inhibit protein synthesis in pathogenic organisms, resulting in a powerful bactericidal effect. They are most effective against sensitive microorganisms.

The first drug of this group was synthesized in the middle of the last century. Today this drug is actively used to treat tuberculosis.

Rifampicins are a group of antibiotics that can rid a person of the tuberculosis bacillus.

To date, 4 generations of drugs have been developed. They have a wide spectrum of action, are quite safe and do not cause side effects. Such agents help to quickly suppress the activity of Klebsiella, Moraxella, Salmonella and other pathogenic organisms. However, they have the greatest activity against streptococci and staphylococci. Each such drug has its own characteristics, which must be taken into account during treatment.

Carbapenems are reserve antibiotics

As a rule, many people are not even aware of the existence of such a group of antibiotics as carbapenems. People usually encounter them extremely rarely, because they are used only to treat severe infections that threaten human life.

The most popular drugs in this group can be called Imipenem, Meropenem, Ertapenem, Invanz. Also included in this group are Meronem, Meropenem, Syronem. Indications for the use of such drugs are nosocomial infections, such as:

• intra-abdominal infections;
• abscess, pneumonia, pleural empyema;
• complications of urinary tract infections;
• sepsis and pelvic infections;
• endocarditis;
• severe wounds;
• joint and bone infections;
• infections of soft tissues and skin.
• Bacterial infections and meningitis.

It should be taken into account that carbapenem antibiotics are administered only intravenously using a special dispenser. It is strictly forbidden to use such products if you are allergic or intolerant to the components of the drug, as well as if you are sensitive to cilastatin. It is very important that during therapy the patient constantly informs his doctor about his health and any changes in the body.

Carbapenems

General structure of carbapenems They belong to β-lactam antibiotics; compared to penicillins and cephalosporins, they are more resistant to the action of β-lactamases. These include impineme and meropenem . The mechanism of action is similar to that of penicillins and cephalosporins. They have a wider spectrum of activity, acting on many Gr+ and Gr– bacteria. Staphylococci, streptococci, including pneumococci, gonococci, meningococci, bacteria of the Enterobacteriaceae family, spore-forming and non-spore-forming anaerobes are sensitive to them. Indications: 1. Severe infections of the lower respiratory tract, urinary tract, intra-abdominal, pelvic organs, skin and soft tissues, sepsis caused by multiresistant and mixed microflora; 2. Endocarditis, infections of bones and joints - only impinema; 3. Meningitis - only meropenem. Frequent side effects: allergic, dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, from the central nervous system - dizziness, tremor, convulsions. Allergic reactions are cross-reactions with all carbapenems, and in 50% of patients also with penicillins. Cannot be used with other β-lactam antibiotics due to their antagonism.

Tetracyclines - time-tested antibiotics

Tetracycline antibiotics

- broad-spectrum drugs.
They are based on a four-cycle system. They do not have a beta-lactam ring, so they are not exposed to the pathogenic influence of beta-lactamase. Such drugs are prescribed for therapy:

• listeria, staphylococci, streptococci, clostridia, actinomycetes;
• gonorrhea, salmonella, whooping cough, syphilis, shigella, E. coli and klebsiella.

The advantage of broad-spectrum tetracycline antibiotics over their analogues is their ability to penetrate deep into the cell affected by the bacteria. It is for this reason that this remedy is actively prescribed to people with chlamydia, fungal infections, and ureaplasma. It should be noted that tetracyclines are absolutely ineffective in the fight against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The most popular drugs are Doxycycline and Tetracycline.

Indications for use

Antibiotics are prescribed to treat infectious diseases caused by microorganisms sensitive to this antibiotic. A characteristic feature of infectious diseases, in contrast to non-infectious ones, is contagiousness - the ability to be transmitted from person to person and not only. Not all bacteria have the same sensitivity to a particular antibiotic.

In order to choose the right drug, a test is carried out to determine the sensitivity of the pathogen to this drug. In many cases, when it is impossible to identify the causative agent of the disease or there is no time for this, antibiotics are prescribed empirically, using broad-spectrum drugs, hoping to capture as wide a range of potential causative agents of the infectious disease as possible.

Broad-spectrum cephalosporins

Cephalosporins

- one of the large groups of broad-spectrum antibiotics. There are 4 generations of such drugs. The first three were used only for parenteral and oral administration. They gained their popularity due to their low toxicity and high efficiency. Such medications help cope with pneumonia, infections of the urinary tract, pelvis, skin and soft tissues. The products are also effective in the fight against STDs.

These antibiotics are available in tablet form. The medicine should be taken strictly with meals, and should be washed down with plenty of clean water. For the entire course of treatment, try to strictly adhere to your daily routine. It is strictly forbidden to skip taking pills. Treatment is not completed after the first signs of relief. Popular drugs in this group are Cefixime, Ceftibuten, Cefuroxime. They are quite inexpensive.

Cephalosporins

General structure of cephalosporins Also classified as β-lactam antibiotics, they are one of the most numerous and frequently prescribed classes due to their low toxicity. The mechanism of action is similar to penicillins, they have 4 generations, each of which is ahead of the previous one in the spectrum of action.

I generation:

1) Parenteral (cefazolin);
2) Oral (cephalexin, cefadroxil). Antibiotics are active against Streptococcus spp. (S.pyogenes, S. pneumoniae) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus spp. In terms of the level of antipneumococcal activity, first-generation cephalosporins are inferior to aminopenicillins and most later cephalosporins. First generation cephalosporins have a narrow spectrum of action and a low level of activity against gram-negative bacteria. The main indications for the use of cephalosporin are preoperative prophylaxis in surgery, as well as the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections; to the use of cefazolin - streptococcal tonsillopharyngitis, community-acquired infections of the skin and soft tissues of mild severity.

II generation:

1) Parenteral (cefuroxime);

2) Oral (cefaclor, cefuroxime axetil).

With a similar antimicrobial spectrum, cefuroxime is more active against Streptococcus spp.
and Staphylococcus spp. The spectrum of action of cephalosporins of the second generation against gram-negative microorganisms is wider than that of representatives of the first generation; The activity of cefuroxime against gonococci is of clinical significance. Due to the resistance of cefuroxime to β-lactamases, it is active against M. catarrhalis, Haemophilus spp., E. coli, Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., P. mirabilis, Klebsiella spp., P. vulgaris, C. diversus. The main indications for use are community-acquired upper respiratory tract infections, hospital-acquired community-acquired pneumonia, community-acquired skin and soft tissue infections, urinary tract infections, perioperative preparation in surgery.

III generation:

1) Parenteral (cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefoperazone, cefoperazone + sulbactam);

2) Oral (cefixime, cefibutene).

The basic antibiotics in this group are ceftriaxone and cefotaxime, which have high activity against Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, corynebacteria, meningococcus, gonococci, H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis, penicillin-resistant pneumococcus and viridans streptococcus.
They have high activity against almost the entire Enterobacteriaceae family. Ceftazidime and cefoperazone also have activity against P. aeruginosa, but significantly less activity against streptococci. Cefixime and cefibutene have little activity against Streptococcus spp., the Enterobacteriaceae family and pneumococci. Indications are moderate and severe community-acquired and nosocomial infections of the lower respiratory tract, urinary tract, skin, soft tissues, bones, joints, intra-abdominal infections, infections of the pelvic organs, meningitis, sepsis, infections due to immunodeficiency. Cefixime and cefibutene are also prescribed for mild to moderate pyelonephritis in children, pregnant and lactating women.

IV generation:

1) Parenteral (cefepime).

It is similar in parameters to third generation drugs, but also has high activity against P. aeruginosa, Enterobacter spp., C. freundii, Serratia spp., M. morganii, P. stuartii, P. rettgeri and non-fermenting microorganisms.
Indications are severe infections of the lower respiratory tract, urinary tract, skin, soft tissues, bones, joints caused by multidrug-resistant microflora, as well as sepsis. Common side effects of cephalosporins include allergic reactions and gastrointestinal dysfunction; Convulsions from the central nervous system, cholestasis and pseudocholelithiasis from the liver may be observed. The allergy is cross-allergic to all cephalosporins, and cross-allergy with penicillins can also be observed. Due to low excretion in children and the elderly, their half-life of cephalosporins increases. Combination with aminoglycosides or loop diuretics may cause a nephrotoxic effect. Antacids reduce the absorption of oral forms.

Antibiotics for children

A special group of new generation antibiotics consists of children's drugs

.
They are prescribed only after 3 days of treatment with antiviral drugs have not brought any effect. Remember that only the attending physician can prescribe such medications. Among the safest children's antibiotics of the latest generation are
:

• Ampicillin-based drugs
  . They are prescribed for the treatment of sore throat, otitis media, sinusitis, pneumonia or pharyngitis. Ampoules and suspensions are most effective.

  

• Susamed Forte
  - tablets for the treatment of sinusitis, skin infections, otitis media, pneumonia and bronchitis. Prescribed only to children over 5 years of age.

  

• Flemoxin Solutab
  - tablet form, which is suitable for the treatment of children under one year of age. Suitable for the treatment of infections of the gastrointestinal tract, ENT organs, genitourinary system and soft tissues.

  

• Zinnat
  - product for children over 3 months. It suppresses the activity of gonococcal infections, relieves bronchitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia and other diseases.

  

• Augmentit
  is an antifungal drug that is also effective in combating fungal infections. The dosage is determined depending on the child’s weight.

Children can use many antibiotics, but the dose of the active substance for them should be less than for adults. The advantage is that they are also available as suspensions for internal use and ampoules for intramuscular use.