Antibiotic Drugs Flashcards
It is also known as prokaryotes which are single-celled organisms that lack a true nucleus and nuclear membrane and has a cell wall that determines its shape.
Bacteria
He devised a method to classify bacteria using the Gram-stain method
Hans Christian Gram
Antibacterial Drugs
- Substances that inhibit bacterial growth or kill bacteria and other microorganisms
- Drugs do not act alone in destroying bacteria. Together with natural body defenses, surgical procedures and dressing changes are needed to eliminate infecting bacteria
- These drugs are either obtained from natural sources or are manufactured
- Penetrates the bacterial cell wall and has an affinity for the bacteria’s binding sites
- The more time the drug remains bound, the longer the effect of the antibacterial action
Alexander Fleming
He discovered the mold that produced Penicillin which was the first antibiotic to be used and marketed
Antiseptic vs. Disinfectants
Antiseptic is used in living tissue, has a lower potency, and primarily inhibits growth (bacteriostatic). On the other hand, disinfectants is used for nonliving objects, has a higher potency, and kills (bactericidal)
Five Mechanisms of Antibacterial Action
- Inhibition of bacterial cell-wall synthesis
- Alteration of membrane permeability
- Inhibition of protein synthesis
- Inhibition of the synthesis of bacterial RNA and DNA
- Interference with metabolism within the cell
MEC or Minimum Effective Concentration
minimum amount of antibacterial drug to halt the growth of microorganisms
Resistance to Antibacterial Drugs
a. When bacteria are sensitive to the drug = the pathogen can be inhibited or destroyed
b. When bacteria are resistant to the drug = the pathogen will continue to grow despite the administration
Two Types of Resistance
- inherent –occurs without previous exposure to the drug;
- acquired –caused by prior exposure to the antibacterial
Type and Considerations of General Adverse Reactions to Antibacterial Drugs
- Allergy or Hypersensitivity
- may be mild or severe
- mild reactions include rash, pruritus, and hives and are treated with an antihistamines
- severe response includes anaphylactic shock, which results in vascular collapse, laryngeal edema, bronchospasm, and cardiac arrest and generally occurs within 20 minutes.
- anaphylaxis required treatment with epinephrine, bronchodilators, and antihistamines.
Type and Considerations of General Adverse Reactions to Antibacterial Drugs
- Superinfection
- a secondary infection that occurs when the normal microbial flora of the body is disturbed during antibiotic therapy.
- can occur in the mouth, respiratory tract, intestine, genitourinary tract, and skin.
- maybe caused by fungal infections (proteus, Pseudomonas, staphylococcus) may be the offending microorganisms
- rarely developed when the drug is administered for less than a week, and they occur more commonly with broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Nystatin
Frequently used for fungal infection of the mouth.
Type and Considerations of General Adverse Reactions to Antibacterial Drugs
- Organ Toxicity
- liver and kidneys are involved in drug metabolism and excretion, and antibacterial may result in damage to these organs. For example, aminoglycosides can be nephrotoxic and ototoxic
Additive Effect
An antibiotic combination that is equal to the sum of the effects of two antibiotics.
Potentiative Effect
An antibiotic combination that occurs when one antibiotic increases the effectiveness of the 2nd drug
Antagonistic Effect
An antibiotic combination that hen two drugs are used together, the desired effect may be greatly reduced.
Narrow Spectrum
primarily effective against one type of organism (selective)
Broad Spectrum
effective against gram-positive and gram-negative organisms
Empiric Therapy
when a drug selected is known to be the best drug that can kill the MO
Definitive Therapy
once the MO is identified in the lab, the antibiotic therapy is tailored by using the most narrow-spectrum, least toxic drug based on culture and sensitivity results
Subtherapeutic
when signs and symptoms do not improve
Superinfections
occurs when the antibiotics reduce or completely eliminate the normal bacterial flora
Why does laboratory testing is being performed on body fluids such as blood, urine, sputum, and wound drainage?
to determine the M’s causing infection
Gram Stain
aspirate of the body fluid is examined under the microscope