Abx Flashcards
What is meant by the term, “selective toxicity”?
The ability to kill or inhibit growth of a microorganism without harming host cells
What is the difference between an antibiotic and an antimicrobial?
Abx = naturally derivedAntimicrobial = lab derived
What is bacteriostatic?
Inhibiting growth of bacteria, but not actually killing them
What is bactericidal?
Killing bacteria
When would you use a bacteriostatic drug?
When host defenses can be counted on
When would you use a bactericidal drug?
Immunocompromised, prophylacticly, or with lethal strains of bacteria
What is antibiotic synergism?
When a combination of two or more abx have an enhanced activity when administered together
What is antibiotic antagonism?
When a combination of abx interfere with one another, and reduce overall effectiveness
What are broad spectrum abx?
Abx that are effective against a large variety of bacteria
What are the advantages and disadvantages of broad spectrum abx?
Advantage = kill w/o knowing etiologyDisadvantage = kill gut flora
What are narrow spectrum abx?
Abx that are effective against only a small subset of bacteria
What are the advantages/disadvantages of using narrow spectrum abx?
Advantage: Avoid disrupting normal floraDis: must have specific disease to target
Do abx cause resistance?
No, genetic mutations do
What are the three results of an abx test?
SensitiveIntermediateResistant
What would you do if you had an intermediate resistance abx, if you still wanted it to be effectie
Target the abx to the body sites and increase dosage
Why should pts alway finish their dose of abx?
To allow immune system to kill off any surviving resistant cells
What is empiric therapy for abx?
Treatment while waiting for lab results (broad spectrum abx)
What are the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties of abx that must be considered when administering abx?
Concentration of abx at site of infection must be adequate for a prolonged duration
What are the four ways that bacteria break down/avoid death by abx?
- Hydolysis2. Chemical modification3. Alteration of target4. Altered permeability5. Lack of target
What is the MIC?
Minimal inhibitory concentration- A measure of the lowest concentration of the antimicrobial agent that inhibits visible growth of bacteria after 18-24 hours of incubation
What is the MBC?
Minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) – the lowest concentration of antibiotic without visible bacterial growth on agar after 18-24 hours incubation.
What is the E-test?
Strips of varying [C] of abx placed on an agar plate with bacteria multiplying.
What is the disk diffusion assay (Kirby-Bauer test)?
When discs are placed on an agar plate with bacteria dividing
What does it mean for an abx to be cell wall active?
it disrupts peptidoglycan synthesis
What are cell wall active abx effective against/what must the bacteria be doing for it to take effect?
Dividing bacteria
What are membrane active abx?
Abx that interfere or disrupts with the membrane
Are membrane active abx effective against resting or actively dividing bacteria? How about cell wall active?
Membrane active effective against bothCell wall active only effective against dividing bacteria