Antibiotic Drug Classes Updated 2025
100% Correct Q and A
Penicillins - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅✅Prototype: Amoxicillin
MOA: contain beta lactam ring that interferes with cell wall synthesis, either Bactericidal or
bacteriostatic depending on dosage
Uses: pheumonia; miningitis; skin, bone and joint infestions; stomach infections; blood and
valve infections
Contraindications: Allergy to penicillin
Adverse effects: anaphylaxis/allergic reaction
Least toxic antibiotic(typically well tolerated)
Nursing considerations: monitor closely during first dose; increase fluids; do not take with food
Cephalosporins - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅✅Prototype: Cefazolin (Ancef)
MOA: inhibits cell wall synthesis with bactericidal action
Uses: SERIOUS infections (where a penicillin would be ineffective) of lower respiratory tract,
CNS system, GU system, bones and joints
Adverse effects: seizures, nephrotoxicity (caution in use with other nephrotoxic drugs)
Contraindications: cephalosporin hypersensitivity
Nursing considerations: perform C&S b4 therapy; assess renal and liver function; do not take
with iron or antacid
Tetracyclines - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅✅Prototype: Doxycycline
MOA: protein synthesis inhibitor
Uses: respiratory and skin infections, STI's (drug of choice for few diseases)
Adverse effects: severe photosensitivity, hepatotoxicity,
Contraindications: pregnancy ( use contraceptives), severe hepatic or renal disease
Nursing considerations: store away from light and heat, <8y/o can cause permanent staining of
teeth, pseudomembranous colitis, do not take with dairy products,
, Macrolides - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅✅Prototype: Erythromycin
MOA: protein synthesis inhibitor
Uses: Macrolides are rarely drug of choice in hospital setting, reespiratory, GI, skin , soft tisssue,
STI's
Adverse reactions: tinnitus, ototoxicity, Hepatotoxicity, GI distress (common)
Nursing considerations: monitor liver enzymes, do not take with antacids, many serious drug
interactions
Aminoglycosides - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅✅Prototype: Gentamicin sulfate
MOA: protein synthesis inhibitor
Uses: SERIOUS SYSTEMIC infections
Adverse reactions: photosensitivity, nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity
Contraindications: severe renal disease, pregnancy, breastfeeding
Drug interactions: penicillins decrease effectiveness,
Nursing considerations: increase fluid intake, monitor renal function and hearing, monitor I/O
Fluoroquinolones - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅✅Prototype: Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
MOA: DNA synthesis inhibitor
Uses: respiratory, GI, GU, skin, soft tissue infections
Adverse effects: tendon rupture (rare), heart dysrhythmias (rare), neurotoxicity
Nursing considerations: can cause change in taste and sleep disturbances, avoid caffeine, not
recommended for age <18y/o
Sulfonamides - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅✅Prototype: Trimethoprim - sulfamethoxazole
(Septra)
MOA: metabolism inhibitor, bacteriostatic, competes with infectious agents for enzyme
necessary for folate synthesis
Uses: drug of choice for UTI's; alternative for pt's with PCN allergy; toxoplasmosis; otitis media
Adverse effects: photosensitivity
100% Correct Q and A
Penicillins - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅✅Prototype: Amoxicillin
MOA: contain beta lactam ring that interferes with cell wall synthesis, either Bactericidal or
bacteriostatic depending on dosage
Uses: pheumonia; miningitis; skin, bone and joint infestions; stomach infections; blood and
valve infections
Contraindications: Allergy to penicillin
Adverse effects: anaphylaxis/allergic reaction
Least toxic antibiotic(typically well tolerated)
Nursing considerations: monitor closely during first dose; increase fluids; do not take with food
Cephalosporins - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅✅Prototype: Cefazolin (Ancef)
MOA: inhibits cell wall synthesis with bactericidal action
Uses: SERIOUS infections (where a penicillin would be ineffective) of lower respiratory tract,
CNS system, GU system, bones and joints
Adverse effects: seizures, nephrotoxicity (caution in use with other nephrotoxic drugs)
Contraindications: cephalosporin hypersensitivity
Nursing considerations: perform C&S b4 therapy; assess renal and liver function; do not take
with iron or antacid
Tetracyclines - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅✅Prototype: Doxycycline
MOA: protein synthesis inhibitor
Uses: respiratory and skin infections, STI's (drug of choice for few diseases)
Adverse effects: severe photosensitivity, hepatotoxicity,
Contraindications: pregnancy ( use contraceptives), severe hepatic or renal disease
Nursing considerations: store away from light and heat, <8y/o can cause permanent staining of
teeth, pseudomembranous colitis, do not take with dairy products,
, Macrolides - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅✅Prototype: Erythromycin
MOA: protein synthesis inhibitor
Uses: Macrolides are rarely drug of choice in hospital setting, reespiratory, GI, skin , soft tisssue,
STI's
Adverse reactions: tinnitus, ototoxicity, Hepatotoxicity, GI distress (common)
Nursing considerations: monitor liver enzymes, do not take with antacids, many serious drug
interactions
Aminoglycosides - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅✅Prototype: Gentamicin sulfate
MOA: protein synthesis inhibitor
Uses: SERIOUS SYSTEMIC infections
Adverse reactions: photosensitivity, nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity
Contraindications: severe renal disease, pregnancy, breastfeeding
Drug interactions: penicillins decrease effectiveness,
Nursing considerations: increase fluid intake, monitor renal function and hearing, monitor I/O
Fluoroquinolones - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅✅Prototype: Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
MOA: DNA synthesis inhibitor
Uses: respiratory, GI, GU, skin, soft tissue infections
Adverse effects: tendon rupture (rare), heart dysrhythmias (rare), neurotoxicity
Nursing considerations: can cause change in taste and sleep disturbances, avoid caffeine, not
recommended for age <18y/o
Sulfonamides - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅✅✅Prototype: Trimethoprim - sulfamethoxazole
(Septra)
MOA: metabolism inhibitor, bacteriostatic, competes with infectious agents for enzyme
necessary for folate synthesis
Uses: drug of choice for UTI's; alternative for pt's with PCN allergy; toxoplasmosis; otitis media
Adverse effects: photosensitivity
