Antibacterials Flashcards
Antibiotics general
Exploits differences between human cells and bacteria
Ideally, causative organisms are identified before antibiotics
Invaders
Prokaryotes - cell without nucleus. Bacteria causes most infectious diseases
Eukaryotes - cells with nuclei
- Fungi
- Protozoa
- Helminths
Viruses
Infection vs. Colonization
Infections: invasion and multiplication of organisms. Prevalent in immunocompromised patients
Colonization: happens in the body by normal flora. Can help in controlling growth of potentially pathogenic organisms
Micro Review
Shape
- Cocci (circular)
- Bacilli (rod like)
- Staphlococci (cocci in clumps)
- Streptococci (cocci in chains)
Aerobes and anaerobes
Gram positive and Gram negative
- Whether or not wall stains with Gram stain
- Implications for action of antibacterials
Gram positive cell wall
- Thick peptidoglycan layer, up to 40 layers, 50% of wall.
- Gram stain (crystal violet) turns it purple
Gram negative cell wall
- Cell wall has a thin peptidoglycan (5%) of wall
- Has an outer membrane
- Less gram stain is trapped
- LPS barrier to some antibiotics to penetrate
Bactericidal
Drugs are directly lethal to bacteria at clinically achievable concentrations
Bacteriostatic
Drugs can slow bacterial growth but do not cause cell death
Host defences especially important for these antibiotics
Superinfection
New microbes take over when antibiotics kill normal floral
Microbe resistant to drug action = difficult to treat
Resistance to Antibiotics
Selection of mutant bacteria enhanced by
Improper choice of antibiotic
- Dose of antibiotic is too low
- Dosing not continued for long enough
- Improper use of antibiotics, e.g. to treat a viral infection
- Prophylactic use of antibiotics, e.g. in animal feed
Antibiotic Therapy
Host factors - age, allergies, organ health, pregnancy, site of infection, and general health
Allergic reactions
- Immune response
- GI upset is not an allergic reaction
Mechanisms of Action
- Disruption of critical metabolic reaction
- Sulfamethoxazole
- Trimethoprim - Interference with cell wall synthesis
- Penicillins
- Vancomycin
- Amino-glycosides - Interference with protein synthesis
- Macrolides
- Tetracyclines
- Aminoglycosides - Interference with DNA replication
- Fluoroquinolones
Sulfonamides
One of the first groups of antibiotics. First industrial scale antibiotics. Use is a lot narrower than it once was
- Broad spectrum
- Sulfa-drug
eg. Sulfamethoxazole
Indication - Sulfonamides
Combined with trimethoprim
- co-trimoxazole
Reaches effective concentrations in the kidney
- Used for UTI and otitis media
- Upper respiratory tract infections
Contraindicated Condition - Sulfonamides
Known allergy: applies to other derivatives of the sulfa-like drugs
Pregnant women
- linked to birth defects in 1st trimester
- can increase fetal bilirubin in end of pregnancy
- not advised during breastfeeding or for infants less than 2 months of age
Adverse Effects - Sulfonamides
Skin allergies (hypesensitivity)
- Stevens-Johnsons syndrome. Swelling of mouth and tongue
- Photosensitivity
Blood (bone marrow suppression)
- Agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia
GI
- Nausea and vomiting (not allergic reactions)
Interactions with Sulfonamides
- May enhance the hypoglycemic effects in diabetes
- Increase toxic effects of phenytoin (anti seizure drug)
- Increase anticoagulant effects of warfarin (coumadin)
B-Lactam Antibiotics
Alexander Fleming
- Inhibits cell wall enzyme responsible for peptidoglycan synthesis - bactericidal
- Characterized by the B-lactam ring in structures
4 groups
- Penicillins
- Cephalosporins
- Monobactams (very rare in Canada, not covered)
- Carbapenems
Penicillins
B-Lactam group
Naturally occurring substance
- Sensitive to B-lactamase
Semi-synthetic - changed slightly
- B-lactamase-resistant
- Broad-spectrum or aminopenicillins
- Extended-spectrum or antipseudomonal penicillins
Aminopenicillins (broad-spectrum)
- Amoxicillin (more acid-stable), ampicillin
Antipseudomonal penicillins
- Ticarcillin, piperacillin
- Includes Pseudomonas aeruginosa: affects mostly ill people (immunocompromised, cystic fibrosis)
Pseudomonas aeruginoas
Opportunistic infections
respiratory tract ears eyes CNS UTI endocarditis