Antibiotics are medicines designed to kill germs and are divided in groups based on how they operate in the body and how the germs are killed by them. Every group has numerous drugs and some of these drugs are new as compared to others. Doctors often prescribe a combination of varied antibiotics. Pneumonia antibiotics are prescribed for the treatment of pneumonia.

Pneumonia which is an inflammatory condition affecting the lung is often observed in individuals belonging to all age groups. The symptoms associated with this condition include chest pain, cough, fever and difficulty in breathing. Bacterial pneumonia is often caused by bacteria such as streptococcus pneumonia and this is treated with some pneumonia antibiotics. Depending on the general health and age of the patient and the severity of pneumonia the antibiotics are administered. The first antibiotic chosen is one that tends to work against multiple bacteria.

Penicillin is commonly used as a part of pneumonia antibiotics treatment. The common medicines forming part of the penicillin umbrella that are used to treat this condition include amoxicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, piperacillin-tazobactam, ticarcillin-clavulanate and benzylpenicillin. In present times some bacteria have become resistant to penicillin and this problem is particularly relevant in penumococci bacteria. In some cases penicillin may result in allergic reaction.

This tends to happen when the natural defense system of the body overreacts to the drugs. A person who is allergic to one form of penicillin may get an allergic reaction to other forms as well. Penicillin can result in anemia and kidney problems among people and also reduce the white blood cells in a person’s body.

Pneumonia antibiotics also include macrolides. When macrolides are being taken patients have to undergo regular tests to check whether the liver functioning is taking place smoothly. In many cases macrolides can also interfere with other medicines. Macrolides that are often prescribed include azithromycin, erythromycin and clarithromycin. Telithromycin is an antibiotic that is similar to macrolides and belongs to the ketolides group of antibiotics. Ketolides have been developed because of increased resistance of bacteria to macrolides.

Cephalosporins are also prescribed as pneumonia antibiotics. These medicines are prescribed when penicillin treatment doesn’t work. Those who are allergic to penicillin group of medicines may also find themselves to be allergic to cephalosporins. These drugs have been known to cause anemia along with kidney problems and also reduce the white blood cells amount in the body. Cephalosporins prescribed include cefprozil, cefuroxime and cefpodoxime.

Fluroquinolones are also sometimes used as a part of pneumonia antibiotics. Some patients taking these medicines may feel sick, dizzy, and restless. These medicines also increase sensitivity of individuals towards light. They also increase the risk of causing damage to tendons. These medicines should not be prescribed for pregnant women or women who are breastfeeding. Levofloxacin, ofloxacin, moxifloxacin are some of the fluroquinolones that may be prescribed.

Tetracyclines may also be used as a part of pneumonia antibiotics but the frequency of their use is relatively low as several bacteria have developed resistance to these medicines. Tetracyclines may be used for treatment of some unusual forms of pneumonia such as psittacosis.