Table 1.

Classes of commonly used antibiotics along with their examples and corresponding modes of action.

Class of antibiotics				Examples	Mode of action
Beta Lactams	Beta lactamase inhibitors			Sulbactam, Tazobactam, Clavulanic acid, Avibactam	Cell wall synthesis inhibitors
	Penicillins	Penicillinase sensible	Aminopenicillins	Ampicillin, Amoxicillin
			Natural penicillins	Penicillin G, Penicillin VK
		Penicillinase resistant		Nafcillin, Dicloxacillin, Oxacillin
		Anti-pseudomonal	Carboxypenicillins	Ticarcillin, Carbenicillin
			Ureidopenicillins	Piperacillin, Mezlocillin, Azlocillin
	Cephalo-sporins	1st generation		Cephalexine, Cefadroxil, Cefazolin, Cephradrine
		2nd generation		Cefuroxime, Cefoxitin, Cefaclor, Loracarbef, Cefprozil
		3rd generation		Cefoperazone, Cefpodoxime, Ceftriaxone, Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime
		4th generation		Cefepime, Cefpirome
		5th generation		Ceftaroline, Ceftolozane
	Carbapenems			Meropenem, Doripenem, Ertapenem, Imipenem
	Monobactams			Aztreonam
No lactams	Glycopeptides			Vancomycin, Dalbavancin, Telavancin, Oritavancin
	Other			Colistin, Daptomycin, Polymixin B, Isoniazid
	Amino-glycosides			Amikacin, Streptomycin, Neomycin, Gentamicin, Tobramycin	Protein synthesis inhibitors
	Tetracyclins			Doxycyclin, Tetracyclin, Democlocyclin, Minocyclin, Tigecyclin
	Oxazolidonones			Linezolid, Tidezolid
	Streptogramins			Quinupristin
				Chloramphenicol
	Macrolides			Erythromycin, Clarithromycin, Azithromycin
	Lincosamides			Clindamycin, Lincomycin
	Fluorquinolones			Ciprofloxacin, Sparfloxacin, Levofloxacin, , Norfloxacin	DNA
	Quinolones			Nalidixic acid	topoisomerases inhibitors
	Sulfonamides			Sulfamethoxazole, Sulfasalazine, Ag sulfadiazine, Sulfisoxazole	Folic acid synthesis inhibitor
	DHFR inhibitors			Trimethoprim, Pyrimethamine
	Nitroimidazoles			Metronidazole, Tinidazole	DNA Damage
				Rifampin	mRNA synthesis