ATC Group: D06A Antibiotics for topical use

Amikacin is an antibiotic used for a number of bacterial infections. Amikacin works by blocking the function of the bacteria’s 30S ribosomal subunit, making it unable to produce proteins.

Chloramphenicol is a broad spectrum antibiotic which has activity against many types of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It acts by interfering with bacterial protein synthesis. Chloramphenicol is widely distributed in body tissues and fluids and enters the cerebrospinal fluid.

Chlortetracycline is a tetracycline antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces aureofaciens. It has a role as an antiprotozoal drug, a fluorescent probe, a calcium ionophore and an antibacterial drug.

Tetracyclines have a broad spectrum of anti-microbial activity and act by interfering with bacterial protein synthesis. They are active against a large number of gram positive and gram negative pathogenic bacteria, including some which are resistant to penicillin.

Fusidic acid belongs to a unique group of antibiotics, the fusidanes, which act to inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by blocking the lengthening of factor G. Fusidic acid is active against staphylococcus epidermidis and methicillin resistant staphylococci.

Gentamicin is usually bactericidal in action. Although the exact mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated, the drug appears to inhibit protein synthesis in susceptible bacteria by irreversibly binding to 30S ribosomal subunits.

Mupirocin is a novel antibiotic produced through fermentation by Pseudomonas fluorescens. Mupirocin inhibits isoleucyl transfer-RNA synthetase, thereby arresting bacterial protein synthesis. Mupirocin has bacteriostatic properties at minimum inhibitory concentrations and bactericidal properties at the higher concentrations reached when applied locally.

Neomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic and acts by binding to polysomes, inhibiting protein synthesis and generating errors in the transcription of the genetic code.

Oxytetracycline is a broad spectrum tetracycline antibiotic with activity against a large number of gram positive and gram negative bacteria. The product acts by interfering with bacterial protein synthesis.

Ozenoxacin is a non-fluorinated quinolone with a dual inhibitory activity against bacterial DNA replication enzymes, DNA gyrase A and topoisomerase IV. Ozenoxacin is characterized by its potency and bactericidal activity against clinical bacterial isolates involved in skin infections, including S. aureus and S. pyogenes.

Retapamulin is a semi-synthetic derivative of the compound pleuromutilin, which is isolated through fermentation from Clitopilus passeckerianus. Retapamulin selectively inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by interacting at a unique site on the 50S subunit of the bacterial ribosome that is distinct from the binding sites of other non-pleuromutilin antibacterial agents that interact with the ribosome.

Rifaximin is an antibacterial agent of the rifamycin class that inhibits bacterial RNA synthesis. Rifaximin has a broad antimicrobial spectrum against most of the Gram-positive and -negative, aerobic and anaerobic bacteria responsible for intestinal infections.

Tetracyclines are taken up into sensitive bacterial cells by an active transport process. Once within the cell they bind reversibly to the 30S subunit of the ribosome, preventing the binding of aminoacyl transfer RNA and inhibiting protein synthesis and hence cell growth.

Tyrothricin is a circular polypeptide with antibiotic and bacteriostatic activity. It is effective against gram-positive bacteria.