Narrow-spectrum Antibiotics - Precision in Bacterial Infection Treatment

Narrow-spectrum antibiotics are antimicrobial agents designed to target specific types of bacteria, offering precision in treating infections while minimizing impact on beneficial microbes.
Category
Antibiotic
Where to get
Prescribed by healthcare providers, focused antibiotics in pharmacies.
Applicable for
Targeted Bacterial Infections
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Narrow-spectrum Antibiotics FAQ


Image credit: jpabs.org

What is a narrow spectrum antibiotic?

As the name suggests, the narrow spectrum antibiotics narrow the treatment to a specific bacterium. These medications focus on specific infections when the causative organism is known. Compared to broad-spetrum antibiotics, they will not kill as many bacterial organisms but eliminate the particular organisms caused by that illness.

How does a narrow spectrum antibiotic work?

In this process, they destroy the bacteria causing the illness. With a narrow spectrum, they are out only to kill the specific bacteria, reducing instances of antibiotic resistance by the body. As much as the treatment with a narrow-spectrum antibiotic appears straightforward, it is faced with the challenges of bacterial distinction.

Are narrow spectrum antibacterial drugs effective?

Current Narrow Spectrum Antibacterial Efforts Narrow spectrum agents that act against specific species and do not generate resistance in other pathogens due to selection pressure have become an attractive alternative to combat resistance development while developing effective novel antibacterial drugs.

What is the difference between broad-spectrum antibiotics and narrow-Spectre antibiotics?

Narrow-spectrum antibiotics are effective against a certain group of bacterial types while broad-spectrum antibiotics are effective against a broader number of bacterial types and, thus, can be used to treat several infectious diseases. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are mainly useful when the infecting pathogen (bacteria) is unknown.

What is a narrow-spectrum antibiotic?

Narrow-spectrum antibiotic allow to kill or inhibit only those bacteria species that are unwanted (i.e. causing disease). As such, it leaves most of the beneficial bacteria unaffected, hence minimizing the collateral damage on the microbiota. Low propensity for bacterial resistance development.

Narrow-spectrum Antibiotics References

If you want to know more about Narrow-spectrum Antibiotics, consider exploring links below:

What Is Narrow-spectrum Antibiotics

  1. https://www.respiratorytherapyzone.com/narrow-spectrum-antibiotics/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7400354/
  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narrow-spectrum_antibiotic
  4. https://idmp.ucsf.edu/content/antibiotic-stewardship-and-spectrum-guide
  5. https://www.respelearning.scot/topic-3-treatment/medication/narrow-spectrum-antibiotics
  6. https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/9/7/418
  7. https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Microbiology/Microbiology_(OpenStax)/14%3A_Antimicrobial_Drugs/14.02%3A_Antibacterial_Drugs

Narrow-spectrum Antibiotics Information

  1. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2018/md/c7md00528h
  2. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/366728/PMC10042089.pdf?sequence=1
  3. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2779307

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