Final answer:
Broad-spectrum antibiotics affect both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antibiotics that affect both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria are called broad-spectrum antibiotics. These antibiotics are effective against a wide range of taxonomic groups and target diverse subsets of bacterial pathogens. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics is preferred in certain cases, such as when waiting for laboratory identification of the infecting pathogen or when treating polymicrobic infections.