Access group antibiotics

This group includes antibiotics that have activity against a wide range of commonly
encountered susceptible pathogens while also showing lower resistance potential than
antibiotics in the other groups. Selected Access group antibiotics are recommended as
essential first or second choice empiric treatment options for infectious syndromes reviewed
by the EML Expert Committee and are listed as individual medicines on the Model Lists of
Essential Medicines to improve access and promote appropriate use.

Antibiotic Class
Amikacin Aminoglycosides
Amoxicillin Penicillins
Amoxicillin/clavulanic-acid Beta-lactam/beta-lactamase-inhibitor
Ampicillin Penicillins
Ampicillin/sulbactam Beta-lactam/beta-lactamase-inhibitor
Azidocillin Penicillins
Bacampicillin Penicillins
Benzathine-benzylpenicillin Penicillins
Benzylpenicillin Penicillins
Brodimoprim Trimethoprim-derivatives
Cefacetrile First-generation-cephalosporins
Cefadroxil First-generation-cephalosporins
Cefalexin First-generation-cephalosporins
Cefaloridine First-generation-cephalosporins
Cefalotin First-generation-cephalosporins
Cefapirin First-generation-cephalosporins
Cefatrizine First-generation-cephalosporins
Cefazedone First-generation-cephalosporins
Cefazolin First-generation-cephalosporins
Cefradine First-generation-cephalosporins
Cefroxadine First-generation-cephalosporins
Ceftezole First-generation-cephalosporins
Chloramphenicol Amphenicols
Clindamycin Lincosamides
Clometocillin Penicillins
Cloxacillin Penicillins
Dicloxacillin Penicillins
Doxycycline Tetracyclines
Epicillin Penicillins
Flucloxacillin Penicillins
Furazidin Nitrofuran derivatives
Gentamicin Aminoglycosides
Hetacillin Penicillins
Mecillinam Penicillins
Metampicillin Penicillins
Meticillin Penicillins
Metronidazole_IV Imidazoles
Metronidazole_oral Imidazoles
Nafcillin Penicillins
Nifurtoinol Nitrofuran derivatives
Nitrofurantoin Nitrofuran-derivatives
Ornidazole_IV Imidazoles
Ornidazole_oral Imidazoles
Oxacillin Penicillins
Penamecillin Penicillins
Phenoxymethylpenicillin Penicillins
Pivampicillin Penicillins
Pivmecillinam Penicillins
Procaine-benzylpenicillin Penicillins
Propicillin Penicillins
Secnidazole Imidazoles
Spectinomycin Aminocyclitols
Sulbactam Beta-lactamase-inhibitors
Sulfadiazine Sulfonamides
Sulfadiazine/tetroxoprim Sulfonamide-trimethoprim-combinations
Sulfadiazine/trimethoprim Sulfonamide-trimethoprim-combinations
Sulfadimethoxine Sulfonamides
Sulfadimidine Sulfonamides
Sulfadimidine/trimethoprim Sulfonamide-trimethoprim-combinations
Sulfafurazole Sulfonamides
Sulfaisodimidine Sulfonamides
Sulfalene Sulfonamides
Sulfamazone Sulfonamides
Sulfamerazine Sulfonamides
Sulfamerazine/trimethoprim Sulfonamide-trimethoprim-combinations
Sulfamethizole Sulfonamides
Sulfamethoxazole Sulfonamides
Sulfamethoxazole/trimethopri
m Sulfonamide-trimethoprim-combinations
Sulfamethoxypyridazine Sulfonamides
Sulfametomidine Sulfonamides
Sulfametoxydiazine Sulfonamides
Sulfametrole/trimethoprim Sulfonamide-trimethoprim-combinations
Sulfamoxole Sulfonamides
Sulfamoxole/trimethoprim Sulfonamide-trimethoprim-combinations
Sulfanilamide Sulfonamides
Sulfaperin Sulfonamides
Sulfaphenazole Sulfonamides
Sulfapyridine Sulfonamides
Sulfathiazole Sulfonamides
 Sulfathiourea Sulfonamides
Sultamicillin Beta-lactam/beta-lactamase-inhibitor
Talampicillin Penicillins
Tetracycline Tetracyclines
Thiamphenicol Amphenicols
Tinidazole_IV Imidazoles
Tinidazole_oral Imidazoles
Trimethoprim Trimethoprim-derivatives

Watch group antibiotics

This group includes antibiotic classes that have higher resistance potential and includes most
of the highest priority agents among the Critically Important Antimicrobials for Human
Medicine1 and/or antibiotics that are at relatively high risk of selection of bacterial resistance.
These medicines should be prioritized as key targets of stewardship programs and
monitoring. Selected Watch group antibiotics are recommended as essential first or second
choice empiric treatment options for a limited number of specific infectious syndromes and
are listed as individual medicines on the WHO Model Lists of Essential Medicines.

Antibiotic Class
Arbekacin Aminoglycosides
Aspoxicillin Penicillins
Azithromycin Macrolides
Azlocillin Penicillins
Bekanamycin Aminoglycosides
Biapenem Carbapenems
Carbenicillin Penicillins
Carindacillin Penicillins
Cefaclor Second-generation-cephalosporins
Cefamandole Second-generation-cephalosporins
Cefbuperazone Second-generation-cephalosporins
Cefcapene-pivoxil Third-generation-cephalosporins
Cefdinir Third-generation-cephalosporins
Cefditoren-pivoxil Third-generation-cephalosporins
Cefepime Fourth-generation-cephalosporins
Cefetamet-pivoxil Third-generation-cephalosporins
CePxime Third-generation-cephalosporins
Cefmenoxime Third-generation-cephalosporins
Cefmetazole Second-generation-cephalosporins
Cefminox Second-generation-cephalosporins
Cefodizime Third-generation-cephalosporins
Cefonicid Second-generation-cephalosporins
Cefoperazone Third-generation-cephalosporins
Ceforanide Second-generation-cephalosporins
Cefoselis Fourth-generation-cephalosporins
Cefotaxime Third-generation-cephalosporins
Cefotetan Second-generation-cephalosporins
Cefotiam Second-generation-cephalosporins
Cefoxitin Second-generation-cephalosporins
Cefozopran Fourth-generation-cephalosporins
Cefpiramide Third-generation-cephalosporins
Cefpirome Fourth-generation-cephalosporins
Cefpodoxime-proxetil Third-generation-cephalosporins
Cefprozil Second-generation-cephalosporins
Cefsulodin Third-generation-cephalosporins
Ceftazidime Third-generation-cephalosporins
Cefteram-pivoxil Third-generation-cephalosporins
Ceftibuten Third-generation-cephalosporins
Ceftizoxime Third-generation-cephalosporins
Ceftriaxone Third-generation-cephalosporins
Cefuroxime Second-generation-cephalosporins
Chlortetracycline Tetracyclines
Cinoxacin Quinolones
Ciprofloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Clarithromycin Macrolides
Clofoctol Phenol derivatives
Clomocycline Tetracyclines
Delafloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Demeclocycline Tetracyclines
Dibekacin Aminoglycosides
Dirithromycin Macrolides
Doripenem Carbapenems
Enoxacin Fluoroquinolones
Ertapenem Carbapenems
Erythromycin Macrolides
Fidaxomicin Macrolides
Fleroxacin Fluoroquinolones
Flomoxef Second-generation-cephalosporins
Flumequine Quinolones
Flurithromycin Macrolides
Fosfomycin_oral Phosphonics
Fusidic-acid Steroid antibacterials
Garenoxacin Fluoroquinolones
Gatifloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Gemifloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Grepafloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Imipenem/cilastatin Carbapenems
Isepamicin Aminoglycosides
Josamycin Macrolides
Kanamycin_IV Aminoglycosides
Kanamycin_oral Aminoglycosides
Lascufloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Latamoxef Third-generation-cephalosporins
Levofloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Levonadifloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Lincomycin Lincosamides
Lomefloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Loracarbef Second-generation-cephalosporins
Lymecycline Tetracyclines
Meropenem Carbapenems
Metacycline Tetracyclines
Mezlocillin Penicillins
Micronomicin Aminoglycosides
Midecamycin Macrolides
Minocycline_oral Tetracyclines
Miocamycin Macrolides
Moxifloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Nemonoxacin Quinolones
Neomycin_IV Aminoglycosides
Neomycin_oral Aminoglycosides
Netilmicin Aminoglycosides
Norfloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Ofloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Oleandomycin Macrolides
Oxolinic-acid Quinolones
Oxytetracycline Tetracyclines
Panipenem Carbapenems
Pazufloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Pefloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Penimepicycline Tetracyclines
Pheneticillin Penicillins
Pipemidic-acid Quinolones
Piperacillin Penicillins
Piperacillin/tazobactam Beta-lactam/beta-lactamase-inhibitor_anti-pseudomonal
Piromidic-acid Quinolones
Pristinamycin Streptogramins
Prulifloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Ribostamycin Aminoglycosides
Rifabutin Rifamycins
Rifampicin Rifamycins
Rifamycin_IV Rifamycins
Rifamycin_oral Rifamycins
Rifaximin Rifamycins
Rokitamycin Macrolides
Rolitetracycline Tetracyclines
Rosoxacin Quinolones
Roxithromycin Macrolides
Rufloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Sarecycline Tetracyclines
Sisomicin Aminoglycosides
Sitafloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Solithromycin Macrolides
Sparfloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Spiramycin Macrolides
Streptoduocin Aminoglycosides
Streptomycin_IV Aminoglycosides
Streptomycin_oral Aminoglycosides
Sulbenicillin Penicillins
Tazobactam Beta-lactamase-inhibitors
Tebipenem Carbapenems
Teicoplanin Glycopeptides
 Telithromycin Macrolides
Temafloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Temocillin Penicillins
Ticarcillin Penicillins
Tobramycin Aminoglycosides
Tosufloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Troleandomycin Macrolides
Trovafloxacin Fluoroquinolones
Vancomycin_IV Glycopeptides
Vancomycin_oral Glycopeptides

Reserve group antibiotics

This group includes antibiotics and antibiotic classes that should be reserved for treatment of
confirmed or suspected infections due to multi-drug-resistant organisms. Reserve group
antibiotics should be treated as “last resort” options.
Selected Reserve group antibiotics are listed as individual medicines on the WHO Model Lists
of Essential Medicines when they have a favourable risk-benefit profile and proven activity
against “Critical Priority” or “High Priority” pathogens identified by the WHO Priority
Pathogens List1, notably carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae. These antibiotics should
be accessible, but their use should be tailored to highly specific patients and settings, when
all alternatives have failed or are not suitable.
These medicines could be protected and prioritized as key targets of national and
international stewardship programs involving monitoring and utilization reporting, to preserve
their effectiveness.
Antibiotic Class
Aztreonam Monobactams
Carumonam Monobactams
CePderocol Other-cephalosporins
Ceftaroline-fosamil Fifth-generation cephalosporins
Ceftazidime/avibactam Third-generation-cephalosporins
Ceftobiprole-medocaril Fifth-generation cephalosporins
Ceftolozane/tazobactam Fifth-generation cephalosporins
Colistin_IV Polymyxins
Colistin_oral Polymyxins
Dalbavancin Glycopeptides
Dalfopristin/quinupristin Streptogramins
Daptomycin Lipopeptides
Eravacycline Tetracyclines
Faropenem Penems
Fosfomycin_IV Phosphonics
Iclaprim Trimethoprim-derivatives
Imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam Carbapenems
Lefamulin Pleuromutilin
Linezolid Oxazolidinones
Meropenem/vaborbactam Carbapenems
Minocycline_IV Tetracyclines
Omadacycline Tetracyclines
Oritavancin Glycopeptides
Plazomicin Aminoglycosides
Polymyxin-B_IV Polymyxins
Polymyxin-B_oral Polymyxins
Tedizolid Oxazolidinones
Telavancin Glycopeptides
Tigecycline Glycylcyclines