Streptogramins are a class of antibiotics. They work as protein synthesis inhibitors. Streptogramins are effective in the treatment of vancomycin-resistant ''Staphylococcus aureus'' (VRSA) and vancomycin-resistant ''Enterococcus'' (VRE), two of the most rapidly growing strains of

multidrug-resistant bacteria Multiple drug resistance (MDR), multidrug resistance or multiresistance is antimicrobial resistance shown by a species of microorganism to at least one antimicrobial drug in three or more antimicrobial categories. Antimicrobial categories are ...

. They fall into two groups:

streptogramin A Streptogramin A is a group of antibiotics within the larger family of antibiotics known as streptogramins. They are synthesized by the bacteria '' Streptomyces virginiae''. The streptogramin family of antibiotics consists of two distinct groups: ...

(23-membered

macrolide Macrolides are a class of mostly natural products with a large macrocyclic lactone ring to which one or more deoxy sugars, usually cladinose and desosamine, may be attached. Macrolides belong to the polyketide class of natural products. ...

) and

streptogramin B Streptogramin B is a subgroup of the streptogramin antibiotics family. These natural products are cyclic hexa- or hepta depsipeptides produced by various members of the genus of bacteria ''Streptomyces''. Many of the members of the streptogramins re ...

(

depsipeptide A depsipeptide is a peptide in which one or more of its amide, -C(O)NHR-, groups are replaced by the corresponding ester, -C(O)OR-. Many depsipeptides have both peptide and ester linkages. Elimination of the N–H group in a peptide structure result ...

). The two groups act synergistically. They are naturally produced in a 3:7 ratio; most formulations keep this ratio. Members include: *

Quinupristin/dalfopristin Quinupristin/dalfopristin, or quinupristin-dalfopristin, (pronunciation: kwi NYOO pris tin / dal FOE pris tin) (trade name Synercid) is a combination of two antibiotics used to treat infections by staphylococci and by vancomycin-resistant ''Enter ...

, made by chemically modifying pristinamycin (semisynthesis) *

Pristinamycin Pristinamycin (INN), also spelled pristinamycine, is an antibiotic used primarily in the treatment of staphylococcal infections, and to a lesser extent streptococcal infections. It is a streptogramin group antibiotic, similar to virginiamycin, ...

, made by '' Streptomyces pristinaespiralis'' * Virginiamycin, made by '' Streptomyces virginiae'' and others * Linopristin/flopristin, made by semisynthesis. experimental streptogramin in clinical trials for the treatment of

respiratory The respiratory system (also respiratory apparatus, ventilatory system) is a biological system consisting of specific organs and structures used for gas exchange in animals and plants. The anatomy and physiology that make this happen varies gr ...

tract

infections An infection is the invasion of tissue (biology), tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host (biology), host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmis ...

. * Etamycin, a streptogramin B.

References

Further reading