Antibiotics are classified based on their mode of action and method of production. They can be bactericidal, bacteriostatic, narrow or broad spectrum based on their antimicrobial activity and target organisms. Major classes include beta-lactams, macrolides, tetracyclines and aminoglycosides which inhibit bacterial cell wall, protein or DNA synthesis. Antibiotics are produced through fermentation using high yielding bacterial strains in bioreactors, followed by downstream purification and quality control before packaging.