Broad-spectrum antibiotic

[3] Although powerful, broad-spectrum antibiotics pose specific risks, particularly the disruption of native, normal bacteria and the development of antimicrobial resistance.Definitive diagnosis of the species of bacteria often occurs through culture of blood, sputum, or urine, and can be delayed by 24 to 72 hours.[6] As a side-effect of therapy, antibiotics can change the body's normal microbial content by attacking indiscriminately both the pathological and naturally occurring, beneficial or harmless bacteria found in the intestines, lungs and bladder.[7] The destruction of the body's normal bacterial flora is thought to disrupt immunity, nutrition, and lead to a relative overgrowth in some bacteria or fungi.[3] This side-effect is more likely with the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, given their greater potential to disrupt a larger variety of normal human flora.
A colored electron microscopy image of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ), a bacterium commonly targeted by broad-spectrum antibiotics
Simplified diagram showing common disease-causing bacteria and the antibiotics which act against them.
spectrumantibioticGram-positiveGram-negativebacteriaempiric therapynarrow-spectrum antibioticantimicrobial resistanceampicillintaxonomydiplococcibacilliGram stain and counter-stainpatterns of hemolysiscultureAntibiotic misusemicrobial contentClostridioides difficilecandidiasisdoxycyclineacne vulgarisCrohn's diseaseminocyclinehumansAminoglycosidesstreptomycinAmoxicillin/clavulanic acidAzithromycinCarbapenemsimipenemPiperacillin/tazobactamQuinolonesciprofloxacinTetracycline-class drugssarecyclineChloramphenicolTicarcillinTrimethoprim/sulfamethoxazoleOfloxacinveterinary medicineco-amoxiclavpenicillinoxytetracyclinepotentiated sulfonamides