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antimicrobial spectrum

{{Short description|Method of assessing antibiotics}}

File:Antibiotic chart.svg

The antimicrobial spectrum of an antibiotic means the range of microorganisms it can kill or inhibit. Antibiotics can be divided into broad-spectrum antibiotics, extended-spectrum antibiotics and narrow-spectrum antibiotics based on their spectrum of activity. Detailedly, broad-spectrum antibiotics can kill or inhibit a wide range of microorganisms; extended-spectrum antibiotic can kill or inhibit Gram positive bacteria and some Gram negative bacteria; narrow-spectrum antibiotic can only kill or inhibit limited species of bacteria.{{cite book|title=Pharmacology|year=2009|url=https://archive.org/details/pharmacologythed00harv|url-access=limited|author1=Michelle A. Clark|display-authors=etal|publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins|edition=5th|location=USA|pages=[https://archive.org/details/pharmacologythed00harv/page/n592 375]–376|language=en|isbn=978-1-4511-4320-1}}{{cite book|author1=David Warrell|author2=Timothy M. Cox|author3=John Firth|author4=Estée Török|title=Oxford Textbook of Medicine: Infection|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hEjqD-ygu8AC&pg=PA39|date=11 October 2012|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-965213-6|page=39}}{{cite journal|last1=Melander|first1=Roberta J.|last2=Zurawski|first2=Daniel V.|last3=Melander|first3=Christian|date=2018|title=Narrow-Spectrum Antibacterial Agents|journal=MedChemComm|volume=9|issue=1 |pages=12–21|doi=10.1039/C7MD00528H|issn=2040-2503|pmc=5839511|pmid=29527285}}

Currently no antibiotic's spectrum can completely cover all types of microorganisms.{{cite book|author1=Erich Lück|author2=Martin Jager|title=Antimicrobial Food Additives: Characteristics, Uses, Effects|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eydHuVtm-p8C&pg=PA39|year=1997|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-3-540-61138-7|page=39}}

Determination

The antimicrobial spectrum of an antibiotic can be determined by testing its antimicrobial activity against a wide range of microbes in vitro . Nonetheless, the range of microorganisms which an antibiotic can kill or inhibit in vivo may not always be the same as the antimicrobial spectrum based on data collected in vitro.{{cite book|author1=Wiley W. Souba|author2=Douglas W. Wilmore|title=Surgical Research|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OyQnRD5LjnAC&pg=PA909|date=23 February 2001|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=978-0-08-054214-0|page=909}}

Significance

Narrow-spectrum antibiotics have low propensity to induce bacterial resistance and are less likely to disrupt the microbiome (normal microflora). On the other hand, indiscriminate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics may not only induce the development of bacterial resistance and promote the emergency of multidrug-resistant organisms, but also cause off-target effects due to dysbiosis.{{cite journal|last=Francino|first=M. P.|date=2015|title=Antibiotics and the Human Gut Microbiome: Dysbioses and Accumulation of Resistances|journal=Frontiers in Microbiology|volume=6|pages=1543|doi=10.3389/fmicb.2015.01543|issn=1664-302X|pmc=4709861|pmid=26793178|doi-access=free}} They may also have side effects, such as diarrhea or rash.{{cite web|date=2014-10-08|title=Comparing Broad- and Narrow-Spectrum Antibiotics for Children with Ear, Sinus, and Throat Infections|url=https://www.pcori.org/research-results/2013/comparing-broad-and-narrow-spectrum-antibiotics-children-ear-sinus-and-throat|access-date=2020-09-05|website=www.pcori.org|language=en}} Generally, a broad antibiotic has more clinical indications, and therefore are more widely used.{{cite book|author1=Andrew Hitchings|author2=Dagan Lonsdale|author3=Daniel Burrage|author4=Emma Baker|title=The Top 100 Drugs e-book: Clinical Pharmacology and Practical Prescribing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oeYjAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA94|date=30 March 2014|publisher=Elsevier Health Sciences|isbn=978-0-7020-5515-7|page=94}} The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) recommends the use of narrow-spectrum antibiotics whenever possible.{{cite web |date=2019-04-15 |title=Antibiotic Stewardship Statement {{!}} HICPAC {{!}} CDC |url=https://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/recommendations/antibiotic-stewardship-statement.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717203120/https://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/recommendations/antibiotic-stewardship-statement.html |archive-date=2019-07-17 |access-date=2020-09-05 |website=www.cdc.gov |language=en-us}}

Examples

See also

References

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External links

  • [https://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/index.html Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC)]

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Category:Antibiotics

Category:Clinical pharmacology