| 1929 |
Penicillin |
ß-Lactam |
Identification of activity_not isolated |
| 1932 |
Sulfapyridine* |
Sulfonamide |
Many derivatives have been developed and remain useful
drugs |
| 1939 |
Polymixin |
Peptide |
Employed for topical application (`triple antibiotic
cream') |
| 1940 |
Penicillin G |
ß-Lactam (penicillin) |
The forerunner of a large class of antibiotics |
| 1944 |
Streptomycin |
Aminoglycoside(streptamine) |
Important drug for TB treatment |
| 1945 |
Cephalosporin C |
ß-Lactam (cephalosporin) |
First of its class. |
| 1947 |
Chloramphenicol |
Phenylpropanoid |
In spite of toxicity (bone marrow suppression), widely used for
typhoid, diarrheas |
| 1948 |
Chlortetracycline |
Tetracycline(type II polyketide) |
Broad spectrum, extensively used in humans, but also for animal
growth promotion |
| 1950 |
Erythromycin |
Macrolide(type I polyketide) |
Modern derivatives (clarithromycin,azithromycin) used widely
for gram-positive infections |
| 1955 |
Vancomycin |
Glycopeptide |
Little used until the 1980s when it was introduced to treat
multiply-resistant gram-positive bacterial pathogens;the `V' in
VRE |
| 1955 |
Amphotericin B |
Polyene |
First generally effective antifungal agent |
| 1955 |
Virginiamycin |
Streptogramins(two-component agent: macrocyclic peptolide and
depsipeptide |
Introduced for animal use, closely related to Synercid now used
in humans |
| 1955 |
Lincomycin |
Lincosamide |
Long-time standby for certain gram-positive infections |
| 1959 |
Rifamycin |
Ansamycin |
Front-line drug for TB treatment |
| 1960 |
Methicillin |
ß-Lactam (penicillin) |
The `M' in MRSA |
| 1962 |
Cephalothin |
ß-Lactam (cephalosporin) |
|
| 1962 |
Nalidixic acid* |
Quinolones |
The forerunner of the potent 4-fluoroquinolones (e.g.
ciprofloxacin* 1983) |
| 1962 |
Trimethoprim* |
Substituted pyridinediamine |
Often used in combination with sulfa drug. |
| 1963 |
Gentamicin |
Aminoglycoside(2-deoxystreptamine) |
First broad-spectrum aminogycloside widely used for nosocomial
infections |
| 1969 |
Fosfomycin |
Phosphonate |
Recently introduced in North America |
| 1973 |
Cefoxitin |
Cephamycin |
|
| 1973 |
Aztreonam |
Monobactam |
|
| 1976 |
Thienamycin |
Carbapenem |
All ß-lactam antibiotics, the `modern'replacements for
penicillin |
| 1980 |
Daptomycin |
Lipopeptide |
Presently in advanced trials for VRE, MRSA treatment |