ABSTRACT

Antibiotics represent a group of chemical substances that kill or suppress the growth of microorganisms. By definition such substances are themselves produced entirely or in part by various species of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, or Actinomycetes) [1]. Not surprisingly, they differ significantly in chemical and physical properties, as well as in antimicrobial spectrum and mechanisms of action. This heterogeneity is also reflected in the diversity of toxic reactions produced clinically by antibiotics. With roughly 30% of all 496hospitalized patients receiving antimicrobial chemotherapy, the spectrum of toxicities produced by these compounds is a significant factor in the clinical management of microbial disease [1].