06-02-23 - Anti-helminthics and Anti Protozoals Flashcards
Learning outcomes
- List the drugs active against intestinal protozoan organisms and the way in which they work
- Demonstrate knowledge of methods of controlling protozoan infections
- Demonstrate understanding of the main helminthic pathogens and the way in which they cause disease
- Recognise the clinical manifestations of infection associated with intestinal helminths
- List the main anti-helminthic drugs and the way in which they work
- Demonstrate understanding of methods of controlling helminth infections
What are protozoa?
What are 4 examples of types of protozoa?
- Protozoa are a group of single-celled eukaryotes, either free-living or parasitic, that feed on organic matter such as other microorganisms or organic tissues and debris
- 4 examples of types of protozoa:
1) Amoebas
2) Flagellates
3) Ciliates
4) Sporozoans
What are 2 protozoal infections of the small intestine?
What is 1 protozoal infection of the large intestine?
- 2 protozoal infections of the small intestine:
1) Giardia lamblia
2) Cryptosporidium parvum - 1 protozoal infection of the large intestine?
1) Entamoeba histolytica
What is G lamblia (Giardia lamblia)?
How is it treated?
- G lamblia (Giardia lamblia) is an Intestinal trophozoite
- It is treated with metronidazole or tinidazole (single dose)
What are 3 proposed drugs in the treatment of Cryptosporidium parvum?
What groups might these drugs not work in?
- 3 proposed drugs in the treatment of Cryptosporidium parvum:
1) Paromomycin
2) Nitazoxanide
3) Spiramycin - Limited evidence that any of these drugs have an impact on the severity or duration of diarrhoea in the most immunocompromised patients
What is amoebiasis?
How is amoebiasis treated?
How does chronic infection change the course of treatment?
How are amoebic abscesses treated?
- Amoebiasis, or amoebic dysentery, is an infection of the intestines caused by a parasitic amoeba Entamoeba histolytica
- Amoebiasis is treated with metronidazole
- In chronic infection, cysts will survive and cause relapse and are resistant to metronidazole
- Chronic infection needs treatment with diloxanide furoate
- Amoebic abscess requires treatment with metronidazole at higher and longer doses
What are 4 common features of amoebiasis?
- 4 common features of amoebiasis:
1) Cysts resistant in the environment
2) Replicative stage is damaging to gut epithelium e.g causing villous atrophy and colitis
3) Passed out in much higher numbers
4) Although it is a cycle, without any intervention = exponential growth, leading to increase symptoms in patient
* This will reach a point where either the immune system can clear the infection, or the patient dies from organ complications
What is metronidazole?
What is their mechanism of action?
What do protozoa is it active against?
Why is it useful against liver amoebic liver abscesses?
What side-effect is common?
What can it cause when mixed with alcohol?
- Metronidazole is originally an antiprotozoal agent
- Under anaerobic conditions it generates toxic radicals that damage bacterial and protozoal DNA
- Metronidazole is active against Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia
- Penetrates well into tissue – hence its value in amoebic liver abscess
- A metallic taste is common and can be hard to tolerate
- Metronidazole causes an acute nauseous reaction with alcohol
What type of medical is Diloxanide furoate?
What are 3 common side effects of Diloxanide furoate?
What well tolerate is Diloxanide furoate?
What list is it part of?
- Diloxanide furoate is a luminal amebicide, meaning it kills amoeba in the lumen of the intestine
- 3 common side effects of Diloxanide furoate:
1) Flatulence
2) Itchiness
3) Hives - Diloxanide furoate is usually well tolerated with minimal toxicity
- It is on WHO essential medicines list
What type of medication is Paromomycin?
How is it administered?
How is it absorbed?
In what stage does it kill amoeba?
What are 5 side-effects of Paromomycin?
Why do these side-effects occur?
- Paromomycin is an aminoglycoside
- It is administered orally
- Paromomycin is not absorbed from the GI tract, but is absorbed through the blood
- Kills amoebic cystic stage, which is very useful as it is highly resistant
- 5 side-effects of Paromomycin:
1) Abdominal cramps
2) Diarrhoea
3) Heartburn
4) Nausea
5) Vomiting - These side-effects can occur because paromomycin can build up in the GI tract and cause toxicity
What does oral dehydration therapy (ORT) involve?
What % of acute diarrhoea cases can be treated with oral rehydration solution (ORS)? How does ORS work?
- Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) Involves the replacement of fluids and electrolytes lost during diarrheal illness
- 90-95% of cases of acute, watery diarrhoea can be successfully treated with an oral rehydration solution (ORS)
- ORS works by increasing the reabsorption of fluids and salts into the intestinal wall
What are the 4 ingredients in the UNICEF / WHO Recipe for oral rehydration solution (ORS)?
What other ingredients can also be added?
- 4 ingredients in the UNICEF / WHO Recipe for oral rehydration solution (ORS):
1) Glucose (anhydrous) 13.6g / L
2) Sodium chloride 2.6g / L
3) Potassium chloride 1.5g / L
4) Trisodium citrate dihydrate 2.9g / L - In addition, fruit juices, coconut water, and other indigenous solutions can adequately approximate ORS
What are 4 ways Protozoal Infections of the GI Tract can be prevented?
- 4 ways Protozoal Infections of the GI Tract can be prevented:
1) Improved hygiene and water supplies
2) Eating only freshly prepared food served hot
3) Avoiding salads and fruit which cannot be peeled
4) Avoiding tap water and ice cubes
Describe the flowchart of helminths for nematodes (in picture)
Describe the flowchart of helminths for cestodes (in picture)
Describe the flowchart of helminths for trematodes (in picture)
What is a disease vector?
What is the degree of exposure related to?
What are 4 different vectors for helminth infections?
- A disease vector is any living agent that carries and transmits an infectious pathogen to another living organism
- The degree of exposure to disease is largely related to geographical orientation
- 4 different vectors for helminth infections:
1) Flies
* Vector for Onchocerciasis
* Onchocerciasis is an infection caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus
2) Aedes mosquito
* Vector for Filariasis
* Filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by microscopic, thread-like worms
3) Crysops
* Vector for Guinea worm
* Dracunculus medinensis is a nematode that causes dracunculiasis, also known as guinea worm disease
4) Snails
* Vector for Schistosomiasis, Capillaria, Fasciola