Antibiotics Flashcards
What are antibiotics?
Antibiotics are substances derived from microorganisms or synthesized chemically that inhibit the growth of bacteria or kill them outright.
What is the primary mode of action of antibiotics?
The primary mode of action of antibiotics is to inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, nucleic acid synthesis, or disrupt bacterial cell membranes.
What is the difference between bactericidal and bacteriostatic antibiotics?
Bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria directly, while bacteriostatic antibiotics inhibit bacterial growth without killing them.
Name the four main targets of antibiotics.
The four main targets of antibiotics are cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, nucleic acid synthesis, and cell membrane integrity.
What is the difference between narrow-spectrum and broad-spectrum antibiotics?
Narrow-spectrum antibiotics target specific types of bacteria, while broad-spectrum antibiotics are effective against a wide range of bacteria, including both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
What are the differences between gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in terms of their cell wall structure?
Gram-positive bacteria have a thick layer of peptidoglycan in their cell wall, while gram-negative bacteria have a thin layer of peptidoglycan surrounded by an outer membrane containing lipopolysaccharides.
What is the mechanism of action of beta-lactam antibiotics?
Beta-lactam antibiotics inhibit bacterial cell wall synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), preventing the cross-linking of peptidoglycan strands. (Inhibit transpeptidation)
Name a beta-lactam antibiotic.
Penicillin, Carbapenem, cephalosporins and monobactams
What is the role of the enzyme beta-lactamase in antibiotic resistance?
Beta-lactamase breaks down beta-lactam antibiotics, rendering them ineffective against bacteria that produce this enzyme.
Which class of antibiotics inhibits protein synthesis by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit?
Aminoglycosides, such as gentamicin and streptomycin, bind to the 30S ribosomal subunit to inhibit protein synthesis. Tetracylines as well.
How do tetracyclines inhibit bacterial protein synthesis?
Tetracyclines inhibit protein synthesis by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit and blocking the attachment of aminoacyl-tRNA to the mRNA-ribosome complex.
Name an antibiotic that targets the 50S ribosomal subunit.
Macrolides like: Erythromycin
Lincosamides: clindamycin ( also 23 ribosomal subunit)
How does erythromycin inhibit bacterial protein synthesis?
Erythromycin binds to the 50S ribosomal subunit and prevents the translocation of the growing peptide chain, inhibiting protein synthesis.
What is the mechanism of action of fluoroquinolone antibiotics?
Fluoroquinolones inhibit bacterial DNA synthesis by targeting DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, enzymes involved in DNA replication and repair.
Name a fluoroquinolone antibiotic.
Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic.
How do sulfonamides inhibit bacterial growth?
Sulfonamides inhibit bacterial folate synthesis by competing with para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) for the active site of dihydropteroate synthase, an enzyme involved in folate synthesis.
What is the mechanism of action of trimethoprim?
Trimethoprim inhibits bacterial folate synthesis by blocking dihydrofolate reductase, an enzyme involved in the conversion of dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate.
Name an antibiotic that disrupts bacterial cell membrane integrity.
Polymyxin B is an antibiotic that disrupts bacterial cell membrane integrity. (detergent like) & daptomycin
How does polymyxin B exert its antibacterial effect?
Polymyxin B binds to the lipid component of bacterial cell membranes, disrupting membrane integrity and causing leakage of intracellular contents.
What are the major adverse effects associated with aminoglycoside antibiotics?
Major adverse effects of aminoglycoside antibiotics include nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity.
Which antibiotic class is contraindicated during pregnancy due to the risk of tooth discoloration and inhibition of bone growth in the fetus?
Tetracyclines are contraindicated during pregnancy due to the risk of tooth discoloration and inhibition of bone growth in the fetus.
Which antibiotics are commonly used to treat urinary tract infections?
Fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, and sulfonamides, such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), are commonly used to treat urinary tract infections.Fosfomycin, Nitrofurantoin
What is the mechanism of action of macrolide antibiotics?
Macrolide antibiotics inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit and preventing the translocation of the growing peptide chain.
Which antibiotics are considered first-line treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections?
Vancomycin and daptomycin are considered first-line treatment for MRSA infections.