They also work by destroying the cell walls of bacteria. Cephalosporins can be divided in four generations depending on their spectrum of activity. Aminoglycosides are effective bactericidal antibiotics in the treatment of serious, gram-negative infections . They interfere with the synthesis of proteins which are vital for the cell. Macrolides are narrow-spectrum antibiotics, which have predominantly bacteriostatic activity inhibiting protein synthesis in the bacteria.
Tetracyclines interfere with bacteria by inhibiting protein synthesis.
Glycopeptides such as vancomycin inhibit cell wall synthesis. They mainly are used in combination with other antibiotics in severe infections.