229 articles
Chloramphenicol
Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin) is a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotic from Streptomyces venezuelae, discovered 1947, that binds the 50S ribosome peptidyl transferase center; now rarely used because of aplastic anemia risk and IARC Group 2A classification.
Chlorhexidine
Chlorhexidine (Hibitane) is a cationic bisbiguanide antiseptic developed by ICI in the UK in the early 1950s, used for surgical skin preparation, catheter care, mouthwash, and umbilical cord antisepsis; most effective combined with alcohol.
Cinoxacin
Cinoxacin (Cinobac) is a first-generation quinolone antibiotic, C12H10N2O5, related to nalidixic acid, used for urinary tract infections; FDA-approved 1980, DNA gyrase inhibitor, now discontinued.
Ciprofloxacin
Ciprofloxacin (Cipro, Ciproxin, Cetraxal) is a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic approved by Bayer in 1987, inhibiting bacterial DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, reserved for infections lacking alternatives due to tendon, nerve, and aortic risks.
Clarithromycin
Clarithromycin (Biaxin, A-56268, TE-031), a semisynthetic 14-membered macrolide antibiotic derived from erythromycin by Taisho Pharmaceutical, approved in the US in 1991; binds the 50S ribosomal subunit, dosed twice daily, strong CYP3A4 inhibitor with QT-prolongation risk.
Clavulanic acid
Clavulanic acid, from Streptomyces clavuligerus, is a β-lactam β-lactamase inhibitor with weak antibacterial activity, used with amoxicillin (Augmentin) and ticarcillin (Timentin) against class A β-lactamase producers.
Clindamycin
Clindamycin, sold as Cleocin and Dalacin, is a lincosamide antibiotic derived from lincomycin, used since 1970 for serious anaerobic and Gram-positive infections and topically for acne.
Clioquinol
Clioquinol (iodochlorhydroxyquin) is an 8-hydroxyquinoline derivative with antibacterial and anticandidal activity, used in topical skin preparations, best known for the SMON epidemic in Japan and later Alzheimer's disease research.
Colistin
Colistin, also known as polymyxin E, is a polymyxin antibiotic used as a last-resort treatment for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections, returning to systemic use by the mid-1990s after decades of abandonment over toxicity.
Cyclacillin
Cyclacillin (ciclacillin, Wy-4508, Cyclapen-W) is a discontinued semisynthetic penicillin, a cyclohexylamido analog of penicillanic acid, FDA-approved in 1979, with faster and higher absorption than ampicillin and lower diarrhea rates than amoxicillin.
Dalbavancin
Dalbavancin, marketed as Dalvance and Xydalba, is a long-acting lipoglycopeptide antibiotic for acute bacterial skin infections, including MRSA, given as one or two weekly infusions.
Dalfopristin
Dalfopristin, a semi-synthetic streptogramin A antibiotic derived from pristinamycin IIA, forms the 70:30 intravenous combination Synercid with quinupristin; FDA-approved in 1999 for vancomycin-resistant E. faecium and later discontinued in the US.
Dapsone
Dapsone (DDS, 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone) is a sulfone antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drug, first-line with rifampicin and clofazimine in WHO leprosy multidrug therapy and used topically for acne.
Delafloxacin
Delafloxacin (Baxdela, ABT-492, RX-3341) is an anionic fluoroquinolone antibiotic approved by the FDA in June 2017 for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, non-inferior to vancomycin plus aztreonam, with IV and oral formulations.
Delamanid
Delamanid (Deltyba), Otsuka's nitroimidazole antibiotic for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis; EMA-authorized 2014, WHO Group C medicine, QT-prolonging, now in the 6-month BDLLfxC regimen.
Dicloxacillin
Dicloxacillin (BRL-1702, Diclocil, Dynapen) is an isoxazolyl, penicillinase-resistant oral penicillin approved by the FDA in 1968 for penicillinase-producing staphylococcal infections; highly protein-bound (97.9%), short half-life, CYP-inducing.
Dirithromycin
Dirithromycin (Dynabac, LY 237216) is a once-daily macrolide antibiotic prodrug hydrolyzed to erythromycylamine; half-life 44 h, FDA approved 1995, used for respiratory and skin infections.
Doripenem
Doripenem (Doribax) is an intravenous broad-spectrum carbapenem antibiotic approved in the US in 2007 and EU in 2008 for complicated intra-abdominal and urinary infections; withdrawn in the EU in 2014 and discontinued in the US after a VAP trial showed increased mortality.
Doxycycline
Doxycycline (Vibramycin) is a second-generation semisynthetic tetracycline antibiotic, FDA approved 1967, inhibiting protein synthesis at the ribosomal A site; used for acne, pneumonia, malaria prophylaxis, rickettsial disease, and CDC 2024 STI postexposure prophylaxis.
Durlobactam
Durlobactam, formerly ETX2514, is a diazabicyclooctane β-lactamase inhibitor developed by Entasis Therapeutics and sold with sulbactam as Xacduro, approved by the FDA in 2023 for pneumonia caused by Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus complex.
Empiric antibiotic therapy
Empiric antibiotic therapy is the practice of starting antibiotics for a suspected bacterial infection before the pathogen and its susceptibilities are known, later narrowing the regimen.
Enmetazobactam
Enmetazobactam (AAI101) is an Indian-invented penicillanic acid sulfone beta-lactamase inhibitor paired with cefepime as Exblifep/Orblicef, approved 2024 for complicated UTI; ALLIUM trial showed 79.1% vs 58.9% success.
Eravacycline
Eravacycline (Xerava) is a fully synthetic fluorocycline tetracycline antibiotic approved in 2018 for complicated intra-abdominal infections in adults, dosed 1 mg/kg IV every 12 hours, with activity against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria but not cUTI.
Erythromycin
Erythromycin (Ilotycin) is a macrolide antibiotic from Saccharopolyspora erythraea that inhibits protein synthesis via 50S ribosome binding; used for respiratory, skin, and other bacterial infections, limited by GI effects, QT prolongation, CYP3A4 interactions, and resistance.
Etimicin
Etimicin (依替米星, antibiotic 89-07, sulfate salt 硫酸依替米星) is a fourth-generation semisynthetic aminoglycoside antibiotic developed in China from gentamicin C1a, approved 1997 and launched 1999, with lower ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity than gentamicin or amikacin.
Exebacase
Exebacase (CF-301, PlySs2) is ContraFect's first-in-class antistaphylococcal phage lysin for S. aureus bacteremia; phase 2 showed MRSA benefit, but the phase 3 DISRUPT trial stopped for futility in 2022.
Faropenem
Faropenem (Farom) is a synthetic oral penem beta-lactam antibiotic, first marketed in Japan in 1997, approved also in India, with broad-spectrum activity, high beta-lactamase stability, and WHO reserve classification.
Fidaxomicin
Fidaxomicin (Dificid, Dificlir), an 18-membered macrocyclic lactone antibiotic from Dactylosporangium aurantiacum, treats C. difficile infection by inhibiting RNA polymerase; FDA-approved 2011 (adults) and 2020 (children), preferred first-line over vancomycin since 2021 IDSA/SHEA guidelines.
Finafloxacin
Finafloxacin (Xtoro), a pH-activated fourth-generation fluoroquinolone otic suspension 0.3%, treats acute otitis externa; FDA approved December 17, 2014, later discontinued, now under Fonseca Biosciences.
Flomoxef
Flomoxef (FMOX, 6315-S, フロモキセフ; Flumarin) is an oxacephem beta-lactam antibiotic developed by Shionogi, approved in Japan in 1988, active against ESBL-producing Enterobacterales, renally excreted, and rejected for the WHO essential medicines list in 2023.