Broad-spectrum Antibiotics - Versatile Tools Against Bacterial Pathogens

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What is a broad 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.

What is a broad-spectrum antibiotic?

This is in contrast to a narrow-spectrum antibiotic, which is effective against only a specific group of bacteria. Although powerful, broad-spectrum antibiotics pose specific risks, particularly the disruption of native, normal bacteria and the development of antimicrobial resistance.

When should broad spectrum antibiotics be used?

Broad spectrum antibiotics are properly used in the following medical situations: empirically (i.e., based on the experience of the practitioner), prior to the formal identification of the causative bacteria and when there is a wide range of possible illnesses and a potentially serious illness would result if treatment is delayed.

Should clinicians consider patients' need for broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy?

Thus, clinicians should consider patients’ need for broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy thoughtfully and, when possible, subsequently tailor therapy based on culture and susceptibilities or stop antibiotics altogether if non-infectious etiologies are found.

What Is Broad-spectrum Antibiotics

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad-spectrum_antibiotic
2. https://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/medication/broad-spectrum-antibiotics.htm
3. https://www.infectiousdiseaseadvisor.com/home/decision-support-in-medicine/hospital-infection-control/broad-spectrum-antibiotics/
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8035643/
5. https://www.drugs.com/article/antibiotics.html
6. https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Microbiology/Microbiology_(Boundless)/13%3A_Antimicrobial_Drugs/13.01%3A_Overview_of_Antimicrobial_Therapy/13.1D%3A_Spectrum_of_Antimicrobial_Activity
7. https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/antibiotics
8. https://microbiologysociety.org/membership/membership-resources/outreach-resources/antibiotics-unearthed/antibiotics-and-antibiotic-resistance/what-are-antibiotics-and-how-do-they-work.html

Broad-spectrum Antibiotics Information

1. https://academic.oup.com/jac/article/78/6/1354/7152884
2. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11908-022-00777-2
3. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41522-018-0048-3
4. https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/full/10.1513/AnnalsATS.201908-608ED