Main Applications Of Antibiotics

Antibiotics have been developed for more than 80 years since the investigation of the sulfonamides and beta-lactams in 1930s. Meanwhile, the pathogenic bacteria developed resistance to antibiotics rapidly and have caused urgent threat to public health. In addition, many antibiotics are used commercially, or are potentially useful, in medicine for activities other than their antimicrobial action. They are used as anti-tumour agents, enzyme inhibitors including powerful hypocholesterolemic agents, immunosuppressive agents, and anti-migraine agents, etc. The purpose of this chapter is to focus on the application of antibacterials, antifungals, and anti-cancers with their clinical use to date, including the development history, side-effects, etc. The antibiotics summarized herein were classified by their uses, structure types, and molecular mechanisms.