What is meant by the term ‘broad spectrum antibiotics’? Explain.

Question

Philoid · Accepted Answer

Antibiotics that are effective against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria are known as broad spectrum antibiotics. Chloramphenicol is an example of a broad spectrum antibiotic. It has the following structure : -

It can be used for the treatment of typhoid, dysentery, acute fever, pneumonia, meningitis, and certain forms of urinary infections. Two other examples of broad spectrum antibiotics are vancomycin and ofloxacin. Ampicillin and amoxicillin −synthetically modified from penicillin are also broad spectrum antibiotics.