[Tetracyclines, sulfonamides and metronidazole]

Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2003 Nov;21(9):520-8; quiz 529, 533. doi: 10.1016/s0213-005x(03)72999-1.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Tetracyclines form a group of natural and semisynthetic products that acts inhibiting the bacterial protein synthesis. They are bacteriostatic agents, exhibiting activity against a wide range of organisms, but they are at the present of limited use because of their acquired resistance. Doxycycline is currently the most frequently used tetracycline in human medicine and it is included in the List of Essential Medicines of the World Health Organization. Sulfonamides are synthetic, broad-spectrum bacteriostatic antibiotics. They were the first effective systemic antimicrobial agents. Their mode of action is based on the inhibition of DNA synthesis. Due to their toxicity and high adquired resistance their use is currently very low. Metronidazole is the main compound of 5-nitroimidazole family. It is a very active bactericidal antibiotic against anaerobic and some microaerophilic bacteria and it is still very useful in the treatment of bacterian and parasitic infections.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents* / adverse effects
  • Anti-Infective Agents* / chemistry
  • Anti-Infective Agents* / pharmacology
  • Anti-Infective Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Contraindications
  • DNA Replication / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Metronidazole* / adverse effects
  • Metronidazole* / chemistry
  • Metronidazole* / pharmacology
  • Metronidazole* / therapeutic use
  • Molecular Structure
  • Parasitic Diseases / drug therapy
  • Sulfanilamides* / adverse effects
  • Sulfanilamides* / chemistry
  • Sulfanilamides* / pharmacology
  • Sulfanilamides* / therapeutic use
  • Tetracyclines* / adverse effects
  • Tetracyclines* / chemistry
  • Tetracyclines* / pharmacology
  • Tetracyclines* / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Sulfanilamides
  • Tetracyclines
  • Metronidazole