Table 2.
Representation of mechanisms of action of antimicrobial agents [25]. Adapted with permission from Ref. [25]. 2014, Dr Patricia Tille.
| Antimicrobial Class | Mechanism of Action | Activity Spectrum |
|---|---|---|
| β-lactams | They inhibit cell wall synthesis by binding enzymes in peptidoglycan production | Gram-negative bacteria and gram-positive bacteria could differ with individual antibiotic |
| Aminoglycosides | Hinders the protein synthesis by binding 30S ribosomal subunits | Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria |
| Chloramphenicol | Inhibits the protein synthesis by binding 50S ribosomal subunits | Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria |
| Fluoroquinolones | Inhibits DNA synthesis by binding the DNA gyrase topoisomerase IV | Gram-negative bacteria and gram-positive bacteria, but it could differ with individual antibiotic |
| Glycylglycines | Inhibits the protein synthesis by binding 50S ribosomal units | A wide spectrum of gram-negative bacteria and gram-positive species |
| Ketolides | Inhibits protein synthesis by binding 50S ribosomal subunits | Gram-positive cocci including certain macrolide resistance strains and Gram-negative strains |
| Lipopeptides | Binding and disruption of cell membrane | Gram-positive bacteria including β-lactams and glycopeptides |
| Nitrofurantoin | The mechanism is unknown and may have bacterial enzyme targets and damaging DNA | Gram-negative bacteria and gram-positive bacteria |
| Oxazolidinones | Hinders the initiation of protein synthesis by binding 50S ribosomal subunits | Wide variety of Gram-positive bacteria including those resistant antimicrobial classes |
| Polymyxins | Disrupts cell membrane c | Poor activity against most Gram-positive bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria |
| Rifampin | Hinders RNA synthesis by binding DNA dependent, RNA polymerase | Gram-positive and certain Gram-negative bacteria |
| Streptogramins | Hinders the protein synthesis by binding two separate sites on the 50S ribosomal subunit | Gram-positive bacteria |
| Tetracycline | Inhibits protein synthesis by binding of 30S ribosomal subunit | Gram-negative bacteria and gram-positive bacteria and several intracellular bacterial pathogens |
| Sulfonamides | Hinders the folic acid pathway, binding the enzyme dihydropteroate synthase | Gram-negative bacteria and gram-positive bacteria |
| Trimethoprim | Hinders with the folic acid pathway by binding the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase | Gram-negative bacteria and gram-positive bacteria |