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The term broad-spectrum antibiotic refers to an antibiotic that acts against a wide range of disease-causing bacteria.〔Clayton L. Thomas Editor, Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary 17th ed., 1993 (ISBN 0-8036-8313-8)〕 A broad-spectrum antibiotic acts against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, in contrast to a narrow-spectrum antibiotic, which is effective against specific families of bacteria.〔S.J. Hopkins, Drugs and Pharmacology for Nurses 12th ed., 1997 (ISBN 0-443-05249 2)〕 An example of a commonly used broad-spectrum antibiotic is ampicillin.〔S.J. Hopkins, Drugs and Pharmacology for Nurses 12th ed., 1997 (ISBN 0-443-05249 2)〕 == Uses == Broad-spectrum antibiotics are properly used in the following medical situations: * Empirically (i.e., based on the experience of the practitioner), prior to the formal identification of the causative bacteria, when there is a wide range of possible illnesses and a potentially serious illness would result if treatment is delayed. This occurs, for example, in meningitis, where the patient can become fatally ill within hours if broad-spectrum antibiotics are not initiated. * For drug resistant bacteria that do not respond to other, more narrow-spectrum antibiotics. * In the case of superinfections, where there are multiple types of bacteria causing illness, thus warranting either a broad-spectrum antibiotic or combination antibiotic therapy. * For prophylaxis after an operation, in order to prevent bacterial infections occurring. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Broad-spectrum antibiotic」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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