Antibiotic Drug Classes

Question 1

Bacterial Cell Target of Beta-lactams

Answer 1

• Inhibits cell wall synthesis
• Targets Penicillin Binding Proteins (PBP), which are the enzymes that form the tetrapeptides in peptidoglycan

Question 2

Bacterial Cell Target of Vancomycin

Answer 2

• Inhibits cell wall synthesis
• Targets the peptide side chains in peptidoglycan, binds to side chains to prevent cross-linking

Question 3

Bacterial Cell Target of Bacitracin

Answer 3

• Inhibits cell wall synthesis
• Blocks the transport of NAG and NAM subunits of peptidoglycan

Question 4

Bacterial Cell Target of Macrolides

Answer 4

• Inhibits protein synthesis (targets the ribosome)

Question 5

Bacterial Cell Target of Chloramphenicol

Answer 5

• Inhibits protein synthesis (targets the ribosome)

Question 6

Bacterial Cell Target of Tetracyclines

Answer 6

• Inhibits protein synthesis (targets the ribosome)
• Prevents tRNAs from binding

Question 7

Bacterial Cell Target of Aminoglycosides

Answer 7

• Inhibits protein synthesis (targets the ribosome)
• Shifts the reading frame leading to mistranslation

Question 8

Quinolones

Answer 8

• Inhibits genomic replication
• Targets and inhibits DNA gyrase

Question 9

Bacterial Cell Target of Rifamycins

Answer 9

• Inhibits transcription
• Inhibits RNA polymerase

Question 10

Bacterial Cell Target of Sulfonamides

Answer 10

• Inhibits biosynthetic pathways (specifically folic acid synthesis)

Question 11

Bacterial Cell Target of Daptomycin

Answer 11

• Damages the cell membrane by making it weak and leaky

Question 12

Bacterial Cell Target of Polymyxins

Answer 12

• Targets the cell membrane
• Binds to and damages the LPS

Question 13

Activity spectrum of Beta-lactams

Answer 13

• Narrow spectrum (gram positive bacteria)

Question 14

Activity spectrum of Vancomycin

Answer 14

• Narrow spectrum (gram positive bacteria)

Question 15

Activity spectrum of Bacitracin

Answer 15

• Narrow spectrum (gram positive bacteria)

Question 16

Activity spectrum of Macrolides

Answer 16

• Gram positive bacteria, some gram negative bacteria

Question 17

Activity spectrum of Chloramphenicol

Answer 17

• Broad spectrum (gram positive and gram negative bacteria)

Question 18

Activity spectrum of Tetracyclines

Answer 18

• Broad spectrum (gram positive and gram negative bacteria)

Question 19

Activity spectrum of Aminoglycosides

Answer 19

• Many are broad spectrum (gram positive and gram negative bacteria)
• Some target Mycobacterium and Pseudomonas

Question 20

Activity spectrum of Quinolones

Answer 20

• Newer classes are broad spectrum (gram positive and gram negative bacteria)

Question 21

Activity spectrum of Rifamycins

Answer 21

• Broad spectrum (gram positive and gram negative bacteria)
• Also target Mycobacterium

Question 22

Activity spectrum of Sulfonamides

Answer 22

• Broad spectrum (gram positive and gram negative bacteria)

Question 23

Activity spectrum of Daptomycin

Answer 23

• Narrow spectrum (gram positives)

Question 24

Activity spectrum of Polymixins

Answer 24

• Narrow spectrum (gram negatives)

Question 25

Toxicity of Bacitracin

Answer 25

Has some toxicity, is used topically

Question 26

Toxicity of Chloramphenicol

Answer 26

Toxic, causes aplastic anemia

Question 27

Toxicity of Aminoglycosides

Answer 27

Some are toxic, have side effects to kidneys and hearing

Question 28

Toxicity of Polymyxins

Answer 28

Some kidney toxicity, often used topically