Antimicrobial spectrum

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.[1][2][3]

A simplified diagram showing common disease-causing bacteria and the antibiotics which act against them.

The diagram of antibiotic coverage is wrong when it comes to doxycycline. It should include that doxycycline does cover MRSA. Please have that fixed.

Currently no antibiotic's spectrum can completely cover all types of microorganisms.[4]

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.[2][5]

Significance

Narrow-spectrum antibiotics have low propensity to induce bacterial resistance and are less likely to disrupt the microbiome (normal microflora).[3] On the other hand, indiscriminate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics may not only induce the development of bacterial resistance and promote the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms, but also cause off-target effects due to dysbiosis.[3][6] They may also have side effects, such as diarrhea or rash.[7] Generally, a broad antibiotic has more clinical indications, and therefore are more widely used.[2][8] The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) recommends the use of narrow-spectrum antibiotics whenever possible.[9]

Examples

See also

References
  1. Michelle A. Clark; et al. (2009). Pharmacology (5th ed.). USA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 375–376. ISBN 978-1-4511-4320-1.
  2. David Warrell; Timothy M. Cox; John Firth; Estée Török (11 October 2012). Oxford Textbook of Medicine: Infection. OUP Oxford. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-19-965213-6.
  3. Melander, Roberta J.; Zurawski, Daniel V.; Melander, Christian (2018). "Narrow-Spectrum Antibacterial Agents". MedChemComm. 9: 12–21. doi:10.1039/C7MD00528H. ISSN 2040-2503. PMC 5839511. PMID 29527285.
  4. Erich Lück; Martin Jager (1997). Antimicrobial Food Additives: Characteristics, Uses, Effects. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 39. ISBN 978-3-540-61138-7.
  5. Wiley W. Souba; Douglas W. Wilmore (23 February 2001). Surgical Research. Elsevier. p. 909. ISBN 978-0-08-054214-0.
  6. Francino, M. P. (2015). "Antibiotics and the Human Gut Microbiome: Dysbioses and Accumulation of Resistances". Frontiers in Microbiology. 6: 1543. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2015.01543. ISSN 1664-302X. PMC 4709861. PMID 26793178.
  7. "Comparing Broad- and Narrow-Spectrum Antibiotics for Children with Ear, Sinus, and Throat Infections". www.pcori.org. 2014-10-08. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  8. Andrew Hitchings; Dagan Lonsdale; Daniel Burrage; Emma Baker (30 March 2014). The Top 100 Drugs e-book: Clinical Pharmacology and Practical Prescribing. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 94. ISBN 978-0-7020-5515-7.
  9. "Antibiotic Stewardship Statement | HICPAC | CDC". www.cdc.gov. 2019-04-15. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  10. Zhanel, George; Critchley, Ian; Lin, Lynn-Yao; Alvandi, Nancy (January 2019). "Microbiological Profile of Sarecycline, a Novel Targeted Spectrum Tetracycline for the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris". Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 63 (1). doi:10.1128/AAC.01297-18. ISSN 1098-6596. PMC 6325184. PMID 30397052.
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