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Microbiology · Chapter 9

Narrow vs. Broad Spectrum

Every antibiotic covers a spectrum. That is the range of microbes it can kill. A narrow drug hits a small slice. A broad drug hits many kinds at once. Here is the catch. The same drug that clears the infection also mows down the body's protective normal flora. Pick an infection, then pick a drug, and watch both sides of the trade.

The gut flora and the infectioneach shape is one colony

The normal flora and the infection under the chosen drug
Gram-positive cocci Gram-negative rods Anaerobes Yeast The infection
The ringed coral colonies are the infection. Everything else is normal flora. A faded, crossed colony has been killed. Yeast is never killed by an antibacterial drug, so it swells as its competitors go.

All six drugs against this infectionupdates live

 
Choose a drugfrom narrow to very broad
The infection being treated
The drug
Infection
—
Flora left
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C. diff risk
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Resistance push
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