Question

Q- Define the following terms:
A. Spectrum of antibiotic action of antibiotics.
B. Narrow spectrum antibiotics.
C. Limited Spectrum antibiotics.

Answer 1

Drugs used to cure diseases caused by microbes or microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses , Fungi etc. are called antimicrobials. This includes antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral agents.
Some important antimicrobial drugs are:
1. Antibiotics
2. Sulpha drugs.

Complete step by step solution:
Antibiotics are now defined as chemical substances (produced wholly or partially by chemical synthesis). Which in low concentration, either kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms by intervening in their metabolic processes. For Example:-
1. First Antibiotic,Penicillin
2. Chrysogenum
Antibiotics have either a cidal (killing) effect or a static (inhibitory) effect on microbes. A few examples of the two types of antibiotics are as follow:
1. Penicillin
2. Tetracillin
The range of bacteria or other microorganisms that are affected by certain antibiotics is expressed as its spectrum of action. Let us define the above mentioned terms now,
a) Antibiotics which kill or inhibit a wide range of gram positive and gram negative bacteria are said to be broad spectrum antibiotics. Ampicillin and amoxicillin are synthetic modification of penicillins. These have a broad spectrum.
b) Those that are effective mainly against gram positive or gram negative bacteria are narrow spectrum antibiotics. For example Penicillin G has a narrow spectrum
c) If the antibiotic is effective against a single organism or disease, they are referred to as limited spectrum antibiotics. It is absolutely essential to test the patients for sensitivity to penicillin before it is administered. In India penicillin is manufactured at the Hindustani Antibiotics in pimpri and in private sector industry.

Note:
The full range of microorganisms attacked by an antibiotic is called its spectrum. Broad spectrum antibiotics are effective against several different types of harmful bacteria. For Example Tetracycline, Vancomycin and ofloxacin and mixture of potent antibiotics chloramphenicol.