Sulfonamide antimicrobial drugs

This table lists sulfonamide antimicrobial drugs; it is intended for use in conjunction with UpToDate content on sulfonamide hypersensitivity. There are two groups of sulfonamide drugs: the antimicrobials and the nonantimicrobials. The antimicrobials cause more hypersensitivity reactions, in part because they contain N4 arylamine groups or N-containing ring substitutions at N1, moieties that are believed important in sulfonamide metabolism and the pathogenesis of drug hypersensitivity. Patients who have had past reactions to sulfonamide antimicrobials can receive sulfonamide nonantimicrobials safely, with the exception of sulfasalazine (which is a nonantimicrobial that releases an antimicrobial upon administration). Caution is advised with use of dapsone (a sulfone) in patients with a history of severe delayed hypersensitivity (eg, SCAR) to a sulfonamide antimicrobial; refer to topic on sulfonamide hypersensitivity.