. 2010 Sep;74(3):417–433. doi: 10.1128/MMBR.00016-10

TABLE 1.

Modes of action and resistance mechanisms of commonly used antibiotics^a

Antibiotic class	Example(s)	Target	Mode(s) of resistance
β-Lactams	Penicillins (ampicillin), cephalosporins (cephamycin), penems (meropenem), monobactams (aztreonam)	Peptidoglycan biosynthesis	Hydrolysis, efflux, altered target
Aminoglycosides	Gentamicin, streptomycin, spectinomycin	Translation	Phosphorylation, acetylation, nucleotidylation, efflux, altered target
Glycopeptides	Vancomycin, teicoplanin	Peptidoglycan biosynthesis	Reprogramming peptidoglycan biosynthesis
Tetracyclines	Minocycline, tigecycline	Translation	Monooxygenation, efflux, altered target
Macrolides	Erythromycin, azithromicin	Translation	Hydrolysis, glycosylation, phosphorylation, efflux, altered target
Lincosamides	Clindamycin	Translation	Nucleotidylation, efflux, altered target
Streptogramins	Synercid	Translation	C-O lyase (type B streptogramins), acetylation (type A streptogramins), efflux, altered target
Oxazolidinones	Linezolid	Translation	Efflux, altered target
Phenicols	Chloramphenicol	Translation	Acetylation, efflux, altered target
Quinolones	Ciprofloxacin	DNA replication	Acetylation, efflux, altered target
Pyrimidines	Trimethoprim	C₁ metabolism	Efflux, altered target
Sulfonamides	Sulfamethoxazole	C₁ metabolism	Efflux, altered target
Rifamycins	Rifampin	Transcription	ADP-ribosylation, efflux, altered target
Lipopeptides	Daptomycin	Cell membrane	Altered target
Cationic peptides	Colistin	Cell membrane	Altered target, efflux

Adapted from reference 150a with permission of the publisher.