Broad spectrum antimicrobials:
- Effective against more than one group of bacteria
- Broad spectrum antimicrobial agents can be administered when
there is serious systemic infections and there is no time to
determine causative agent
- It is frequently used as empiric therapy to cover a wide range
of potential pathogens
- It can be administered when narrow spectrum antimicrobials
fails for treatment or prevention of infections
- It can be used for polymicrobic infections or as prophylactic
measures
- Examples of broad spectrum antimicrobials are aminoglycosides,
second and third generation cephalosporins
Narrow spectrum antimicrobials:
- Target a specific group of pathogens
- Use of narrow spectrum antimicrobials preferred to avoid
superinfection and development of resistance
- It is used for the specific infection when the causative
organism is known for particular infection
- It is used to minimize collateral damage to the normal
microbiota
- The examples of narrow spectrum antimicrobials are older
penicillins, vancomycin