Antibiotics Flashcards
Definition of antibiotics
Chemicals derived from bacteria used to kill bacteria
How do Abx kill bacteria
Utilise a target such as the cell wall and selectively target specific bacteria content
Definition of broad spectrum
Effective against multiple bacteria
How do penicillins work
Interfere with the synthesis of peptidoglycan cell wall which is a structure unique to bacteria and acts as a backbone to bacteria cells
Definition of gram-positive
These bacteria have thicker peptidoglycan layer than gram negative bacteria
What enzyme can inhibit the action of penicillin
Beta-lactamase
What can be given alongside penicillin to prevent the inhibition of action
Beta-lactamase inhibitors - e.g. co-amoxiclav (amoxicillin + clavulanic acid)
What action do macrolides have
Inhibit protein synthesis within bacterial cell wall
What drug interactions can Abx cause
- Oral contraceptive failure
- Metronidazole causes severe reaction with alcohol
What action do tetracyclines have
Inhibit protein synthesis within bacterial cell and prevent expression of genes within cell
