Respiratory pharmacology. Antibiotics. I. Beta-lactam antibiotics, the tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, clindamycin, metronidazole, and the quinolones.

Pneumonia, acute bronchitis, and sinusitis are common infections encountered by the pulmonary specialist. Such conditions are usually treated with antibiotics, and their use requires an understanding of their pharmacokinetic properties as well as their antimicrobial spectrum and adverse side effects.