229 articles
Flucloxacillin
Flucloxacillin (Floxacillin, Floxapen) is a narrow-spectrum, β-lactamase-resistant penicillin antibiotic available only on prescription, used to treat Gram-positive infections including cellulitis, bone infections, and endocarditis.
Flumequine
Flumequine is a synthetic quinolone antibacterial, first described 1976, the first C-6 fluorinated quinolone; withdrawn from human use for ocular toxicity, still a veterinary drug for livestock and farmed fish, selecting the same GyrA resistance as fluoroquinolones.
Fosfomycin
Fosfomycin (fosfomycin tromethamine, Monurol; IV form CONTEPO) is a phosphonate epoxide antibiotic inhibiting MurA cell wall synthesis, used as a single 3-g oral dose for uncomplicated UTI and intravenously for complicated UTI.
Fusafungine
Fusafungine (Bioparox, Locabiotal) is a fungal enniatin peptide antibiotic and anti-inflammatory nasal/oromucosal spray from Fusarium lateritium, authorised in Europe in 1963 and withdrawn in 2016 over serious allergic reactions and weak efficacy evidence.
Fusidic acid
Fusidic acid (Fucidin) is a steroid-structured antibiotic produced by a fungus, discovered in 1960 at LEO Pharma in Denmark and used chiefly against staphylococcal skin infections.
Garenoxacin
Garenoxacin (Geninax) is a des-fluoro(6) quinolone antibiotic approved in Japan in 2007 for respiratory and ENT infections, dosed 400 mg once daily, targeting DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV; US and EU applications were withdrawn.
Gemifloxacin
Gemifloxacin (Factive), an oral fluoroquinolone antibiotic approved by the FDA in 2003, treats ABECB and mild-to-moderate CAP at 320 mg daily; oral-only, dual gyrase and topoisomerase IV inhibition.
Gentamicin
Gentamicin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic from Micromonospora purpurea discovered in 1963, kills aerobic Gram-negative bacteria via 30S ribosome binding; dosed 5-7 mg/kg daily IV, limited by nephro- and ototoxicity, and currently in shortage in the US and Canada.
Gepotidacin
Gepotidacin (Blujepa, GSK2140944), a first-in-class triazaacenaphthylene antibiotic inhibiting DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, FDA-approved in 2025 for uncomplicated UTI in females and urogenital gonorrhea.
Gramicidin
Gramicidin, a membrane-channel peptide antibiotic from Bacillus brevis discovered by René Dubos in 1939, was the first clinically tested antibiotic; topical use only due to hemolytic toxicity. Distinct from Soviet gramicidin S.
Grepafloxacin
Grepafloxacin (OPC-17116, Raxar/Vaxar) was a third-generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic by Otsuka and Glaxo Wellcome, approved 1997 for bronchitis and pneumonia, withdrawn worldwide in 1999 for QTc prolongation and cardiac deaths.
Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy
Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy is a combination antibiotic and acid-suppressing treatment, usually 14 days long, that cures H. pylori infection, healing ulcers and reducing gastric cancer risk.
Hetacillin
Hetacillin is a discontinued semisynthetic aminopenicillin prodrug, an acetone adduct of ampicillin (Versapen), with no antibacterial activity itself; it hydrolyzes in the body to ampicillin, its active form.
Iclaprim
Iclaprim (Ro 48-2622, AR-100) is an investigational 2,4-diaminopyrimidine dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor active against Gram-positive bacteria including MRSA and trimethoprim-resistant strains; not FDA or EMA approved.
Isoniazid preventive therapy
Isoniazid preventive therapy is the administration of isoniazid, usually for 6 to 9 months, to people with latent tuberculosis infection to prevent progression to active TB disease.
Jarisch–Herxheimer reaction
Jarisch–Herxheimer reaction (JHR), or Herxheimer reaction, an acute febrile inflammatory response within 24 hours of antibiotics for spirochetal infections such as syphilis, Lyme disease, and relapsing fever, mediated by cytokines, self-limited, and not a drug allergy.
Josamycin
Josamycin (leucomycin A3, kitasamycin A3, Wilprafen) is a 16-membered macrolide antibiotic from Streptomyces narbonensis var. josamyceticus, discovered by Hamao Umezawa in 1964, marketed by Yamanouchi in 1969, acting on the 50S ribosome against Gram-positive bacteria and mycoplasmas.
Lefamulin
Lefamulin (Xenleta, formerly BC-3781) is a first-in-class semisynthetic pleuromutilin antibiotic, approved IV and oral for adults with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia, noninferior to moxifloxacin in the LEAP 1 and LEAP 2 phase 3 trials.
Levofloxacin
Levofloxacin (Cravit, Tavanic, Levaquin) is a third-generation fluoroquinolone antibiotic, the S-(-) isomer of ofloxacin, inhibiting DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV; FDA-approved 1996 for pneumonia, UTIs, skin infections, anthrax, and plague, with a boxed warning for tendon and nerve injury.
Levonadifloxacin
Levonadifloxacin (WCK 771, EMROK), a benzoquinolizine fluoroquinolone and arginine salt of S(–)-nadifloxacin, is an anti-MRSA antibiotic approved in India in 2019, with the oral L-alanine prodrug alalevonadifloxacin (WCK 2349, EMROK O).
Levornidazole phosphate disodium for injection
Levornidazole phosphate disodium for injection (注射用磷酸左奥硝唑酯二钠, brand Xinrui) is a Chinese Class 1 nitroimidazole antibiotic, a phosphate prodrug of levornidazole (S-ornidazole), approved 26 May 2021 for Yangtze River Pharmaceutical for anaerobic and amebic infections.
Linezolid
Linezolid (Zyvox) is the first oxazolidinone antibiotic, FDA-approved April 18, 2000 for Gram-positive infections including MRSA and VRE; also used off-label for MDR-TB and XDR-TB with dose-related toxicity.
List of antibiotics
List of antibiotics: classes of antibacterial drugs (beta-lactams, macrolides, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, others), their mechanisms of action, history from penicillin (1928) onward, appropriate use, resistance, and the WHO 2025 clinical pipeline.
Lomefloxacin
Lomefloxacin, sold as Maxaquin, is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic approved in the United States in 1992 to treat bronchitis and urinary tract infections, later discontinued and known for phototoxicity.
Loracarbef anhydrous
Loracarbef anhydrous (Lorabid) is an oral carbacephem beta-lactam antibiotic, structurally cefaclor with carbon replacing sulfur at position 1; first approved 1991, used for respiratory, skin, and urinary infections, now discontinued in the US.
Lymecycline
Lymecycline (Tetralysal 300) is a second-generation semisynthetic tetracycline antibiotic, ATC J01AA04, first approved 1963; 408 mg capsule equals 300 mg tetracycline base, used mainly for acne.
Mafenide
Mafenide (mafenide acetate, Sulfamylon), 4-(aminomethyl)benzenesulfonamide, is a topical sulfonamide-related antimicrobial for burn wounds; it penetrates eschar, acts differently from sulfonamides, and can cause metabolic acidosis.
Medical uses of silver
Medical uses of silver: the silver ion (Ag+) as an antimicrobial in wound dressings, silver sulfadiazine for burns, Credé's silver nitrate eye drops, and silver alloy catheters; clinical evidence is limited and colloidal silver health claims are unsupported.
Merbromin
Merbromin, sold as Mercurochrome and Mercromina, is an organomercurial disodium salt (C20H8Br2HgNa2O6) red topical antiseptic for minor wounds; banned OTC in the US since 1998, still approved in Spain.
Meropenem
Meropenem (MERREM IV), a broad-spectrum intravenous carbapenem antibiotic approved in the US in 1996, treats complicated skin, intra-abdominal, and meningeal infections; stable to dehydropeptidase I and most beta-lactamases, with valproic acid interaction.