Reference
Antibiotics and Their Most Common Indications (Reference)
A one-page illustrated summary of antibiotic classes and where each is used. This is a general teaching note, not a Pakistan treatment guideline.
- ICD-10
- —
- Source
- OPD handbook p.203 (illustrated note, in English)
- Status
- Draft
Not yet reviewed by a clinician. Check doses and brands against current national guidelines before use.
Symptoms
By class
- Aminoglycosides (gentamicin, tobramycin): gram-negative organisms and Pseudomonas; adverse effect: ototoxicity.
- Tetracyclines (doxycycline): STDs (LGV), Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q fever.
- Quinolones (levo-/cipro-floxacin): empiric; used for UTIs and prostatitis; contraindicated in pregnant women.
- Penicillins: used for gram-positive organisms; block cell wall formation; now primarily used for strep infections; penicillin for syphilis; semi-synthetic penicillins such as oxacillin/nafcillin are used for S. aureus (osteomyelitis, cellulitis).
- Macrolides (erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin): gram-positive; cover atypicals (Legionella, Mycoplasma, Mycobacteria, Chlamydia, H. influenzae); clarithromycin for MAC (HIV); azithromycin for walking pneumonia.
- Cephalosporins: 1st generation (cefazolin, cefadroxil, cephalexin) and 2nd generation (cefaclor, cefoxitin, cefotetan) for gram-positive; 3rd generation (cefotaxime, ceftriaxone) for gram-negative, ceftriaxone also for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and gonorrhoea; 4th generation (cefepime) for Pseudomonas.
- Others: trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for UTIs and PCP prophylaxis in HIV; rifampicin for TB and H. influenzae; linezolid for MRSA and resistant skin infections.
- Vancomycin: effective against MRSA; effective against C. difficile when taken orally.
- Carbapenems (imipenem, meropenem): not first choice; used for febrile neutropenia.
- Anti-anaerobes: clindamycin for anaerobes above the diaphragm (can cause C. difficile diarrhoea); metronidazole for anaerobes below the diaphragm, bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis and diarrhoeal illnesses.
- Penicillin / β-lactamase inhibitors: piperacillin/tazobactam (effective for Pseudomonas); amoxicillin/clavulanate.