Dictionary of Antibiotics and Related Substances

Book excerpt: Bacterial and parasitic diseases are the second leading cause of death worldwide, according to a report by the London School of Economics. Due to the emergence of drug-resistant "superbugs," like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), traditional antibiotics such as penicillin and its derivatives are in danger of becoming obsolete. In an effort to combat this problem, pharmaceutical companies continue to research new and effective antibiotics. The Dictionary of Antibiotics and Related Substances, Second Edition is a definitive reference work dealing with this crucially important class of biochemicals. It consists of a comprehensive survey of the antibiotic field, providing a single-volume resource and a significant update to the first edition published in 1988. Each dictionary entry contains the chemical name and synonyms, CAS Number, chemical structure, biological activity, and a concise bibliography. Entries include naturally occurring antibiotics, such as the beta-lactams (penicillins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems) and aminoglycosides; semisynthetic antibiotics—the most common type available—modified chemically from original compounds found in nature; and synthetic antibiotics, including the sulfonamides, the quinolones, and the oxazolidinones. It is estimated that there are approximately 10,000 antibiotics known, and this revised edition of the successful compilation covers all of the different classes. The dictionary also includes fully searchable downloadable resources.