Antibiotics Classification: Definition, Types, Uses and Examples

Bacterial infections affect nearly all organisms, including humans. Prior to modern medicine, any cuts or bruises could be fatal. Even catching a common cold could have resulted in death. Until the discovery of the first true antibiotic – penicillin – there were almost no ways to combat microbial infections. Antibiotics are a class of powerful medicines that fight infections and, when used correctly, can save our lives. They work by either preventing bacterial reproduction or completely destroying them. Our immune system, however, kills bacteria before they multiply and cause symptoms. Although the white blood cells attack the harmful bacteria, our immune system is usually able to cope and fight the infection. However, when the harmful bacteria are in large numbers and our immune system is unable to combat them, antibiotics are used.

Keyterms: Bacterial infections, Medicine, Common cold, Antibiotic, Penicillin, Blood cells, Bacteria, Immune system, Microbial infections, pH levels, Oxygen, Moulds, Fungi, Soil bacteria

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What are Antibiotics?

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Antibiotics are antimicrobial drugs derived from other organisms (such as moulds, fungi, and some soil bacteria) that are used to combat pathogenic microorganisms. They are, however, ineffective against certain microbes, such as viruses.

The fermentation process produces antibiotics on a large scale. This is a chemical reaction triggered by microorganisms in a large tank. The growth medium, which provides nutrition for the microorganisms' growth, is housed in a large tank. It is critical to optimise temperature, pH levels, oxygen, and nutrient parameters in the fermentation tank when producing antibiotics. After the antibiotics are manufactured, they are extracted and purified using multiple physical processes. Finally, the purified antibiotics are converted into crystal form.

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Antibiotics Classification Detailed Video Explanation:

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History of Antibiotics

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Originally, antibiotics were derived from microorganisms. Antibiotics were developed synthetically in the later years after the advancement of synthetic methods.

In the nineteenth century, a German bacteriologist named Paul Ehrlich began to search for a chemical that could kill bacteria in both human and animal bodies while causing no harm to their health. He discovered a medicine called arsphenamine, also known as salvarsan, after conducting various types of research. It was used to treat syphilis, which was caused by the bacteria spirochete. In 1908, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for this work.

Though this medication had some side effects, its impact on bacteria was far greater than on humans.

Another drug known as prontosil was discovered in 1932 by a group of researchers at Bayer Laboratories. This was very similar to salvarsan, which when ingested converts to sulphanilamide.

However, the true revolution in antibacterial therapy occurred with Alexander Fleming's 1929 discovery of the naturally occurring antibiotic penicillin.

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Working of Antibiotics

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Despite the fact that antibiotics come in a variety of forms, they all work in the same way. When certain antibiotics, such as penicillin, kill bacteria, they tend to get rid of them. They usually do so by interfering with the formation of the bacteria's cell content or cell wall. The other type of antibiotics tend to prevent bacteria from multiplying.

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Types of Antibiotics

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The chemical structure of antibiotics is typically used to classify them. Antibiotics belonging to the same structural class have similar properties in terms of efficacy, allergy potential, and toxicity. They are as follows:

• Penicillin
• Macrolides
• Sulphonamides
• Cephalosporin
• Tetracyclines
• Fluoroquinolones
• Aminoglycosides

They are classified as follows based on how they work to stop the bacterial infection:

• Bactericidal: They have the ability to kill bacteria in the body that cause disease. Penicillin, polymyxin, and other antibiotics are some examples.
• Bacteriostatic medications: They are used to prevent microbial growth. Chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and other antibiotics are some examples.

Antibiotics are classified as follows based on their mode of action:

• Broad Bandwidth: These are the drugs that inhibit or destroy the growth of a wide variety of bacteria, both gram-positive and gram-negative. Amoxicillin is an example.
• Spectrum Restrictions: These antibiotics typically target Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria. Penicillin G is an example.

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Uses of Antibiotics

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Following are the Uses of Antibiotics:

• Today, the term antibiotic refers to antibiotics, which are drugs that kill bacteria. As a result, mortality rates have decreased while lifespan has increased.
• These microbial infections have the potential to wipe out an entire population of organisms, which can have a negative impact on the ecosystem. Anthrax, for example, is a disease that infects livestock and can spread to humans, and it is often fatal if not treated.
• Antimicrobial therapy is used to kill or prevent the growth of microorganisms. However, it may not be enough to undo the damage that has already been done.

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Antibiotic Resistance

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Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a fairly common occurrence. The emergence of bacterial resistance frequently reflects on the evolutionary processes that occur during antibiotic therapy. Antibiotic treatment may favour bacterial strains with genetically or physiologically enhanced ability to withstand higher doses of antibiotic medication. It can result in preferential resistant bacterial growth under certain conditions, whereas susceptible bacterial growth is inhibited by the antibiotic.

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Examples of Antibiotics

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Following are the Examples of Antibiotics:

• Penicillin: Penicillin was the first "true" antibiotic, discovered in 1928 by a Scottish bacteriologist named Alexander Fleming. It was widely used to treat the various types of bacterial infections that afflicted mankind. Penicillin was an unintentional discovery, but it was a game changer in the field of medicine. Penicillin is derived from the mould Penicillium notatum (also known as Penicillium chrysogenum).
• Quinolones: This is yet another antibiotic that can either inhibit or kill bacteria. Quinolones, first synthesised in 1962, are derived from a synthetic compound known as nalidixic acid. Quinolones are typically used as the first-line treatment for bacterial infections of the urinary tract. It also works well for sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

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Things to Remember

Following are some important points:

• Antibiotics are antimicrobial drugs derived from other organisms that are used to combat pathogenic microorganisms.
• Antibiotics are derived from organisms such as moulds, fungi, and some soil bacteria.
• Antibiotics were developed synthetically in the later years after the advancement of synthetic methods.
• Examples of Antibiotics includes Penicillin, Macrolides, Sulphonamides, Cephalosporin, Tetracyclines, Fluoroquinolones, Aminoglycosides and many more.