Antibiotics Flashcards
Define bacericidal?
Kills bacteria
Define bacteriostatic?
Inhibits bacterial growth
What is a narrow spectrum antibiotic?
Acts on a limited range of bacteria
What is a broard spectrum antibiotic?
Acts on a wide range of gram positive and gram negative organisms
What are the 3 main ways antibiotics work?
1) Acting on bacterial cell walls. (eukaryotes don’t have a cell wall)
2) Affecting the bacterial ribosome (eukaryotes have 80S ribosomes, prokaryotes have 70S)
3) Acting directly on bacterial DNA (bacterial DNA is different from mamalian DNA
Which antibiotics act on the cell wall?
Penicillins, cephalosporins and glycopeptides
How do penicilins work?
Inhibit cell wall synthesis- bacteriocidal
1) PG subunits are produced inside the cell and transported across the cell membrane and cross linked with each other for stability
2) Penicillin prevents the cross linking of PG subunits
3) Penicillin also stimulates the production of autolysins which break down the cell wall
=> more difficult to withstand high osmotic pressure
=> Bacterial wall ruptures and bacteria die
How do cephalosporins work?
Same as penicillins
What are the adantages and disadvantages of penicilins?
+ safe and few side effects
+ Range from narrow to broad spectrum
+ Excreted rapidly via kidneys
+ safe in pregnancy
- some patients are allergic to penicillin
- Rapid excretion means frequent dosing of 4-6 times daily
Are penacilins safe in pregnancy?
Yes
There are 2 broad types of penicilin, which must be given IV?
Benzylpenicilin as it is destroyed by stomach acid
NB: can be given IM for a long lasting effect
There are 2 broad types of penicilin, which is given orally?
Phenoxymethyl penicillin
What is the drug of choice for a staph aureus infection?
Flucloxacillin IV or PO
Give 4 examples of penicillin based antibiotics?
Flucloxacillin
Amoxacilin
Co-Amoxiclav
Piperacillin/Tazobactam
Characteristics of flucloxacillin?
Narrow spectrum
Used for Staph and strep infections
Commonly used for skin and soft tissue infections
IV or PO
Characteristics of Amoxicillin?
Broard spectrum
Not effective against organisms which produce beta lactamase
Well absorbed through PO
IV or PO
Characteristics of Co-Amoxiclav?
Combination of amoxicillin and clavulanic acid (beta lactamase inhibitor)
Broad spectrum
Can lead to C diff infection
IV or PO
What is clavulanic acid?
A beta lactamase inhibator with no antibiotic properties of its own
Characteristics of Piperacilin/tazobactam?
Combination of piperacillin (antibiotic) and tazobactam (beta lactamase inhibator)
Broard spectrum
Treats everything except MRSA and some ESBL (extended spectrum beta lactamse) producing organisms
IV ONLY
What are the advantages and disadvantages of cephalosporins?
\+ Excreted via kidneys \+ Few side effects \+ Safe in pregnancy \+ Broad spectrum - Kill off normal gut flora and allow overgrowth of C difficile causing gasteroenteritis
Are cephalosporins safe in pregnancy?
Yes
What are the 1st generation (least broad spectrum) cephalosporins and what are they commonly used for?
Cefalexin PO for a UTI
What are the 2nd generation cephalosporins and what are they commonly used for?
Cefuroxime IV or PO (not really used)
What are the 3rd generation (most broad spectrum) cephalosporins and what are they commonly used for?
Cefixme PO for gonorrhea
Cetriaxone IV for meningitis
Ceftazimide IV for Pseudomonas
Why are cephalosporins avioded?
The help spread C difficile in hospitals
How do glycopeptides work?
1) Binds to the end of growing pentapeptide chain during PG synthesis, preventing cross linking and weakening the cell wall
2) Blocks action of transpeptidase enzyme that cross link PG
Are glycopeptides bactericidal or bacteriostatic?
Bactericidal
Are cephalosporins bactericidal or bacteriostatic?
Bactericidal
Are penicillins bactericidal or bacteriostatic?
Bactericidal
Give an example of a glycopeptide and its route of administration?
Vancamycin IV only
Which bacteria is vancomycin effective against?
Gram positive bacteria
Why should vancomycin be used with caution in patients with kidney failure?
Vancomycon is excreted via kidneys so it can build up in patients with kidney failure => more kidney failure
When is vancomycin given orally and why?
Treatment of severe C diff. It is not absorbed from the gut wall so is acting topically on the lumen