What is the common suffix for a class of antibiotics known for their use against bacterial infections?

The suffix commonly associated with a class of antibiotics known for their effectiveness against bacterial infections is -cillins. This suffix is typical of penicillin antibiotics, which include well-known medications like penicillin, amoxicillin, and ampicillin. These drugs are widely used to treat various bacterial infections due to their ability to inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis, leading to cell lysis and death.

The other suffixes, while they may indicate different classes of drugs, do not relate specifically to antibiotics targeting bacterial infections. For example, -mycins typically refer to macrolide antibiotics or aminoglycosides, which can also be effective but are distinct from penicillins. -prazoles are associated with proton pump inhibitors used for gastrointestinal conditions, and -azoles are primarily linked to antifungal medications. Understanding the specific suffixes helps in identifying the class of medication and its primary use in treating various conditions.