(9-23) Antimicrobial Medications Flashcards
What did Paul Ehrlich discover in 1910?
He discovered that an arsenic-containing compound was effective against Treponema pallidum (the causative agent in Syphilis).
What did Gerhard Domagk discover in 1932?
He discovered that Prontosil was effective against Streptococcus. [The breakdown product, sulfanilamide, was active.]
What was the first sulfa drug?
Prontosil
What is the definition of an antimicrobial drug?
A chemical that inhibits the growth of, or kills, microorganisms.
What is an antibiotic?
An antimicrobial drug naturally produced by mold or bacteria.
What did Andrew Fleming discover in 1928?
He discovered that mold Penicillium produced a substance (termed “penicillin”) that killed bacteria.
Mass production of which drug saved many soldiers’ lives during WWII?
Penicillin
What is one example of a semisynthetic antibiotic?
Penicillin
What does selective toxicity mean?
Antibiotics cause greater harm to microorganisms than to human host.
How does selective toxicity cause greater harm to microorganisms than to the human host?
By interfering with biological structures or biochemical processes common to bacteria, but not to humans.
How is the toxicity of a drug expressed?
As a therapeutic index
How is the therapeutic index of a drug calculated?
The lowest dose toxic to a patient divided by dose typically used for treatment (high therapeutic index = less toxic to patient).
What is an antimicrobial’s spectrum of activity?
Antimicrobials vary with respect to the range of organisms controlled.
Explain and give examples of 2 spectrums of antibiotics.
- Narrow spectrum: works on a narrow range of organisms
~ ex. G+ or G- bacteria ONLY - Broad spectrum: work on a broad range of organisms
~ ex. G+ and G- bacteria
What is the disadvantage of broad spectrum antibiotics?
Disruption of normal flora
What is antimicrobial action?
Drugs may kill or inhibit bacterial growth.
When a drug’s action is to inhibit bacterial growth, it is termed what?
Bacteriostatic
When a drug’s action is to kill bacteria, it is termed what?
Bacteriocidal
What are the 6 mechanisms of action of antibacterial drugs?
- Selective toxicity
- Inhibition of cell wall synthesis
- Inhibition of protein synthesis
- Inhibition of metabolic pathways
- Inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis
- Interference with cell membrane integrity
Why can antibiotics inhibit cell wall synthesis?
Eukaryotes lack cell walls
Why can antibiotics inhibit protein synthesis?
Ribosomal differences
~ Prokaryotic = 70s ribosome
~ Eukaryotic = 80s ribosome
Why can antibiotics inhibit metabolic pathways?
It utilizes those that are different or lacking in eukaryotes
Why can antibiotics inhibit nucleic acid synthesis?
Prokaryotic enzymes are different than eukaryotic enzymes
Why can antibiotics interfere with cell membrane integrity?
They can bind to the membrane
What level of therapeutic index do Cell Wall Synthesis inhibiting drugs have?
Very high
Which organisms do Cell Wall Synthesis inhibiting drugs affect and what are they effective against?
- Only affect prokaryotes
2. Only effective in actively growing bacteria