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Broad-spectrum antibiotic
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<p>A broad-<a href="/facts/Antimicrobial_spectrum/Pr4kaKkm">spectrum</a> antibiotic is an <a href="/facts/Antibiotic/sF1kIfxg">antibiotic</a> that acts on the two major bacterial groups, <a href="/facts/Gram-positive/H6WYQ17e">Gram-positive</a> and <a href="/facts/Gram-negative/S1PbVtp4">Gram-negative</a>, or any antibiotic that acts against a wide range of disease-causing <a href="/facts/Bacteria/wC8xSCsU">bacteria</a>. These medications are used when a bacterial infection is suspected but the group of bacteria is unknown (also called <a href="/facts/Empiric_therapy/DQXq5MAu">empiric therapy</a>) or when infection with multiple groups of bacteria is suspected. This is in contrast to a <a href="/facts/Narrow-spectrum_antibiotic/6PkWXWEy">narrow-spectrum antibiotic</a>, which is effective against only a specific group of <a href="/facts/Bacteria/wC8xSCsU">bacteria</a>. Although powerful, broad-spectrum antibiotics pose specific risks, particularly the disruption of native, normal bacteria and the development of <a href="/facts/Antimicrobial_resistance/jsbAywgx">antimicrobial resistance</a>. An example of a commonly used broad-spectrum antibiotic is <a href="/facts/Ampicillin/oIodNyBw">ampicillin</a>. </p>