Antibiotic Drugs

Question 1

What is a Bacteria?

Answer 1

It has a cell wall, that determines its shape, Also known as prokaryotes which are single-celled organisms that lack a true nucleus and nuclear membrane, Hans Christian Gram devised a method to classify bacteria using the Gram-stain method.

Question 2

What is Antibacterial Drugs?

Answer 2

These drugs are either obtained from natural sources or are manufactured, 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, Alexander Fleming discovered the mold that produced Penicillin which was the first antibiotic to be used and marketed.

Question 3

What are the Antibiotic Combinations?

Answer 3

The first one is Additive Effect, it is equal to the sum of the effects of two antibiotics, the second is Potentiative Effect, it occurs when one antibiotic increases the effectiveness of the 2nd drug, the last one is Antagonistic Effect, it is when two drugs are used together, the desired effect may be greatly reduced.

Question 4

What is Narrow and Broad Spectrum?

Answer 4

Narrow Spectrum is primarily effective against one type of organism (selective), Broad Spectrum is effective against gram-positive and gram-negative organisms.

Question 5

What is Empiric, Therapeutic and Subtherapeutic therapy?

Answer 5

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 C&S results.

Subtherapeutic - When signs and symptoms do not improve .

Superinfection - Occurs when the antibiotics reduce or completely eliminate the normal bacterial flora.

Question 6

What are the host factors?

Answer 6

Immune system, Site of infection, Age, Pregnancy.

Question 7

What are Carbapenems?

Answer 7

• Carbapenems have the broadest antibacterial actions of any antibiotics; Bactericidal and inhibit cell wall synthesis and are often reserved for complicated body cavity and connective tissue infections.
• W/O for drug-induced seizure activity.

Question 8

What are Quinolones?

Answer 8

• It estroys bacteria by altering their DNA, does not affect human DNA.
• Very potent bactericidal broad-spectrum antibiotics.
• Suitable for treating complicated UTIs, but can be given to patients with respiratory, skin, GIT and bone infections.

Question 9

What are Fungal Infections?

Answer 9

• Mycosis-term used to described fungal infection
• Fungi that cause integumentary infections are called dermatophytes.
• Commonly, patients with weaker immune system such as organ transplant recipients, taking immunosuppressive therapy, cancer and AIDS patients are at risk for mycosis
• Four types include: Systemic, Cutaneous, Subcutaneous, and Superficial.

Question 10

What are the Anti-Fungals?

Answer 10

• Topical Antifungal drugs are commonly used and often administered without prescription for oral and vaginal mycoses.
• Polyenes (Amphotericin B, Nystatin) –binds to sterols in the cell membranes of the fungi.
• Imidazoles(Ketoconazole) & Triazoles ( Fluconazole, Itraconazole, Voriconazole, Posaconazole) –combats rapidly growing fungi and inhibits fungal cell P450 enzymes.
• Echinocandins (Caspofungin, Micafungin, Anidulafungin) -prevents synthesis of glucans which are found in fungal cell walls.
• Anti-metabolite (Flucytosine) -disrupts cellular metabolic pathways of the fungi.