A series of 2-(α-hydroxyacetyl)pyridine thiosemicarbazones was synthesized as potential antimalarial and antibacterial agents. Their synthesis was achieved by the condensation of N4-mono- or N4,N4-disubstituted thiosemicarbazides with 2-(α-hydroxyacetyl)pyridine. The latter was prepared by selective bromine oxidation of (2-pyridinyl)-1,2-ethanediol. The new compounds show potent inhibitory activity against penicillin-sensitive as well as penicillin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae (MIC, 0.5–0.004 μg/mL), against Neisseria meningitidis (MIC, 0.5–0.032 μg/mL), and Staphylococcus aureus (MIC, 0.5–2 μg/mL). Good in vitro antimalarial effects against Plasmodium falciparum (Smith strain; ID50, 6.7–38 ng/mL) were observed in most of these new agents, but only 3 of 12 compounds exhibit moderate in vivo activity against Plasmodium berghei. These new agents appear to be less toxic to the host and more water soluble than the corresponding 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazones.