Table 1.

List of clinically relevant classes of antibiotics, their main bacterial targets, and their mechanism of actions.

Class	Main targets[50]	Mechanism of action[50]	Common antibiotics[50, 51]
Aminoglycosides	Gram-negative bacteria	Disrupt protein synthesis	Gentamicin, tobramycin, streptomycin
Carbapenems	Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria	Disrupt cell wall synthesis	Ertapenem, faropenem
Cephalosporins	Wide range of targets: early generations target gram-positive bacteria, while later generations target gram-negative bacteria, Methicillin-resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)	Disrupt cell wall synthesis	Cefixime, cefotaxime
Glycopeptides	Gram-positive bacteria, MRSA	Disrupt cell wall synthesis	Teicoplanin, vancomycin
Lincosamides	Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria	Disrupt protein synthesis	Clindamycin, Lincomycin
Lipopeptides	Gram-positive bacteria	Disrupt cell membrane potential	Daptomycin
Macrolides	Gram-positive bacteria, some gram-negative bacteria	Disrupt protein synthesis	Azithromycin, clarithromycin
Monobactams	Gram-negative bacteria	Disrupt cell wall synthesis	Aztreonam
Oxazolidinones	Gram-positive bacteria	Disrupt protein synthesis	Linezolid
Penicillins	Streptococci, Staphylococci, Neisseria species	Disrupt cell wall synthesis	Amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin G
Polymyxin	Gram-negative bacteria	Disrupt cell wall synthesis	Polymyxin B, Polymyxin E
Quinolones	Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria	Disrupt DNA synthesis	Cinoxacin, nalidixic acid
Rifamycins	Mycobacteria	Disrupt RNA synthesis	Rifabutin, rifampin
Streptogramins	Gram-positive bacteria	Disrupt protein synthesis	Quinupristin, dalfopristin
Sulphonamides	Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria	Disrupt folic acid synthesis	Sulfamethizole, sulfamethoxazole
Tetracyclines	Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria	Disrupt protein synthesis	Tigecycline