Antibiotics belong to the group of chemotherapeutic products that are formed by microorganisms, inhibit the growth of pathogens of infections or the development of neoplasms (malignant tumors). Many of them are able not directly, but indirectly to affect the protective properties of the body, stimulating (immunomodulators) or inhibiting (immunosuppressive) immunity.
The study of antibiotics began in 1929 after the discovery of the healing properties of penicillin.
To date, several tens of thousands of antibiotics have been openly described and described, however, about fifty species that struggle with various diseases are most often used for treatment.
With the help of this group of substances, hundreds of diseases can be cured, including: plague, tuberculosis, anthrax, and many other terrible, quickly affecting humans or animal diseases.
As with all medicinal substances, the classification of antibiotics depends on their origin, mechanism of action, and chemical structure.
Antibiotics are substances obtained from extracts of bacteria, fungi, and animal tissues. If the substances obtained as a result of colony extraction did not respond to additional processing, then the antibiotic is considered natural. If the molecule was chemically modified in order to improve its qualities, we can talk about the semisynthetic origin of the substance.
So, the classification of antibiotics by origin implies natural and semi-synthetic antibiotics .
If we take into account the way in which these drugs fight the disease, the classification of antibiotics by the mechanism of action divides them into:
- drugs that interfere with the normal functioning of cell membranes ;
- substances that stop the synthesis of protein and amino acids;
- inhibitors that destroy or inhibit the synthesis of cell walls of all microorganisms.
By the type of effect on the cell, antibiotics can be bactericidal and bacteriostatic. The former very quickly kill harmful cells, the latter contribute to the slowdown of their growth, prevent reproduction.
The classification of antibiotics by chemical structure takes into account groups according to the spectrum of action:
- beta-lactam (natural, semi-synthetic, broad-spectrum substances) that affect microbes differently;
- aminoglycosides that affect bacteria;
- tetracyclines that inhibit microorganisms;
- macrolides that fight gram-positive cocci, intracellular irritants, which include chlamydia, mycoplasma, etc.
- ansamycins, especially active in the treatment of gram-positive bacteria, fungi, tuberculosis, leprosy;
- polypeptides that stop the growth of gram-negative bacteria;
- glycopeptides that destroy the walls of bacteria that stop the synthesis of some of them;
- anthracyclines used in tumor diseases.
Such a classification of antibiotics helps clinicians to choose the right type of drug that is effective in combating one or another pathogen.
However, in order for the treatment to be successful, and the medicine was chosen correctly, the doctor must first take into account which pathogen caused the disease, and then determine the resistance of this pathogen to various groups of the drug.
After that, the specialist determines the optimal amount of a substance that can destroy the disease, but at the same time ensure the minimum number of side effects, the duration of treatment.
The classification of antibiotics that any specialist should know will help, if necessary, to select several drugs that help to enhance the mutual effect or expand the spectrum of action of the drug.
Since antibiotics are potent substances that can cause severe side effects, they can be used only as directed by a specialist.