10: Treatment of Infection

Question 1

what is the goal of infectious disease drugs?

Answer 1

selective toxicity – killing the problem without causing excessive damage to other cells

Question 2

how are bacteria categorized?

Answer 2

categorized by shape and staining of the cell

Question 3

what is the difference between bactericidal and bacteriostatic drugs?

Answer 3

bactericidal: kill/destroy bacteria
bacteriostatic: limit bacteria growth

Question 4

what are the 3 main mechanisms action of antibacterials?

Answer 4

– inhibit cell wall synthesis and function
– inhibit protein synthesis
– inhibit DNA/RNA function

Question 5

what are adverse effects of antibiotics?

Answer 5

hypersensitivity reactions (rashes, itching, respiratory difficulty – wheezing), and GI problems (N,V,D)

Question 6

what is one of the most serious problems with antibacterial drugs?

Answer 6

development of bacteria that is resistant to antibacterial agents

Question 7

when can resistance occur?

Answer 7

– certain bacteria have a defense mechanism
– genetic mutations
– drug’s ability to penetrate bacterial cell is reduced

Question 8

what are the most common drugs that have resistance?

Answer 8

VRSA, MRSA, VRE, PRSP

Question 9

what are PT implications for antibacterials?

Answer 9

– infection control (bone, wounds, UTIs, pneumonia)
– hypersensitivity & GI problems

Question 10

why are viruses unique?

Answer 10

they rely on the host (human) cell to function, which means they are difficult to treat without destroying good cells

Question 11

the FDA has approved drugs to treat which viruses?

Answer 11

Hep B, influenza, herpes simplex, CMV, warts, RSV

Question 12

what are interferons?

Answer 12

group of proteins made by the immune system in response to infection to help healthy cells resist infection

Question 13

what viruses can interferons help treat?

Answer 13

Hep B&C, certain cancers, MS

Question 14

what are adverse effects of interferons?

Answer 14

(body’s response to infection): fever, sweating, chills, muscle aches, general malaise, depression

Question 15

what are the two goals of pharmacological mgmt of HIV?

Answer 15

1. control proliferation of HIV
2. treat and prevent opportunistic infections

Question 16

are there any drugs available that completely kill HIV in humans?

Answer 16

no, but a few antiviral drugs can inhibit replication which reduces mortality and morbidity

Question 17

what are two types of drugs that help prevent the proliferation of HIV?

Answer 17

protease inhibitors and reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Question 18

what are adverse effects of protease inhibitors?

Answer 18

abdominal fat deposition, increased cholesterol, insulin resistance, increased risk of CV disease, diarrhea, headache, fatigue

Question 19

what are adverse effects of reverse transcriptase inhibitors?

Answer 19

anemia, fever, chills, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, excessive fatigue, myopathy, atrophy

Question 20

what is highly active antiretroviral therapy? HAART

Answer 20

when several anti-HIV drugs are administered simultaneously to provide optimal defense against HIV

Question 21

what are opportunistic infections?

Answer 21

immune systems are down from HIV treatment, leaving body open to infection from other things (major cause of illness and death in those with HIV)

Question 22

what are examples of common opportunistic infections?

Answer 22

pneumonia, hepatitis, necrotizing lesions, vesicular eruption of the skin, tuberculosis, CNS infection

Question 23

what are PT implications for HIV?

Answer 23

– infection control
– myopathy and peripheral neuropathy
– maintain muscle strength and function with massage, aerobic and resistance exercise