Antibiotic Resistance Flashcards
What is an antibiotic?
A drug that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms.
What is antiobiotic resistance?
Somewhat arbitrary designation that implies that an antimicrobial will not inhibit bacterial growth at clinically achievable concentrations.
What is antibiotic susceptibility?
Somewhat arbitrary designation that implies that an antimicrobial will inhibit bacterial growth at clinically achievable concentrations.
What is the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC)?
Lowest concentration of antimicrobial that inhibits growth of bacteria. Commonly used in clinical lab.
What is the Minimal Bactericidal Concentration (MBC)?
Concentration of an antimicrobial that kills bacteria.
What is Breakpoint?
The MIC that is used to designate between susceptible and resistant. Set by a committee based on clinical evidence.
T or F. Since the 1990s, new antibiotic development has fallen sharply while bacterial resistance continues to increase.
T.
What are the advantages of the automated method of determining MIC?
Allows for rapid testing of single organisms for multiple antibiotics. Smaller volume needed and higher throughput.
How does the E-test determine MIC?
Strip in culture contains varying antibiotic concentration gradient. The point at which growth is observed to be inhibited is the MIC.
Can MIC be determined with Kirby-Bauer Disk Diffusion?
No.
What 2 methods allow determination of MIC?
- E-test
2. Agar dilution
What can be inferred when the MIC is greater than the breakpoint?
The bacteria being tested will be resistant.
What is another more clinically useful definition of breakpoint?
The concentration that has to be achieved in the body for efficacy.
T or F. MIC must be considered along with breakpoint to determine efficacy in a clinical setting.
T.
A low MIC does not determine what?
Resistance or susceptibility.
What is the major reason organisms develop resistance to antibiotics?
The use of antibiotics.
What are the 3 patient concerns for wanting an antibiotic prescription?
- Want clear explanation
- Green nasal discharge (pt assumes this means bacterial infection)
- Need to return to work
What are the 3 physician concerns for writing an antibiotic prescription?
- Patient expects antibiotic
- Diagnostic uncertainty
- Time pressure
What happens when colonizing or infecting bacteria are exposed to antibiotics?
Resistant bacteria or their genetic determinants are selected for.
T or F. Resistant bacteria can be transmitted between patients.
T.
What is the major way to eliminate spread of resistant bacteria?
Hand sanitization.
What are the 3 high risk patient populations for the development of resistant bacteria?
- Immunocompromised
- Hospitalized
- Invasive devices (especially central venous catheters)
When bacteria are under increasing antibiotic selection pressure, what 3 things occur?
- Bacteria resistant to a particular drug are selected and replicate
- Different antibiotics select different bacteria but can select resistant phenotypes to other drugs as well
- This results in multi-drug resistance (MDR) organisms and increases their total number
What are the 6 mechanisms of antibiotic resistance?
- Decreased permeability
- Efflux pumps
- Alteration in target molecules
- Antibiotic degrading enzymes
- Antibiotic resistant genes
- Antibiotic altering enzymes
T or F. Many MDR bacteria often only have one mechanism of antibiotic resistance.
F: many mechanisms.
Genes encoding resistance exist where?
Plasmids or chromosomes.
What is the major antibiotic degrading enzyme?
Beta-lactamases.
Why are beta-lactamases more potent in gram negative bacteria?
Gram negative contain outer membrane. So when beta-lactamases are released they stay in periplasmic space and thus there is a higher concentration of b-lactamases in gram negative bacteria.