Antibiotics Flashcards
therapeutic index
toxic dose- 50/effective dose-50
What determines the efficacy of an antibiotic against a specific bacterium.
- reach target
- bind target & inhibit function
- resist inactivity
When and how antibiotic susceptibility is performed
- presence of selected resistance mechanisms
- performed if antibiotic has therapeutic potential for org at infected body site
- performed if can’t be predicted from species of org
minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)
- [ABx] which inhibits visible growth of bacteria
- [ABx] which kills 99.9% of bacteria
4 mechanisms ABx can by synergistic
- reach greater conc at site of activity
- enhances binding of another to target
- blocks destruction of other
- partially inhibit separate steps in synthetic pathway
The advantages and disadvantages of the different routes of antibiotic administration.
- oral: convenient, some drugs not absorbed; systemic levels variable, some drugs not absorbed, pt compliance
- IV: bypasses absorption; inconvenient
- IM: bypasses absorption; inconvenient, pnful
What determines the concentration of penicillin in the CSF, and the role of inflammation in this
- normally low bc pumped out by choroid plexus
- choroid plexus inflamed & can’t pump pcn out
The role of folate in synthetic reactions
Folate –> Dihydrofolate –> Tetrahydrofolate
Tetrahydrofolate is used to transfer single carbons in synthetic pathways for
amino acids and nucleotides for DNA and RNA synthesis
The mechanism of activity of sulfonamides
inhibit Dihydropteroate Synthase
blocks folate synthesis in bacteria
–> inhibits nucleotide synthesis for DNA/RNA
The adverse effects of trimethoprim and sulfonamides
- trimethoprim: rare suppressive effect on bone marrow cells, reducing production of RBC, WBC and platelets
- sulfonamides: Hypersensitivity reactions
Why sulfonamides and trimethoprim are selective for bacterial cells
Sulfonamides: because only bacteria make folate
Trimethoprim:
Why trimethoprim and sulfonamides are synergistic
because they each inhibit a separate step in a single synthetic pathway (the
production of tetrahydrofolate).
trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole combination therapy spectrum
broad spectrum effect against both gram positive and negative
The mechanism of fluoroquinolone activity
Quinolones block the activity of gyrase and topoisomerase IV at the step where the DNA has a double stranded break.
–> DSBs accumulate and kill bacteria
(gyrase and topoisomerase IV normally allow DNA supercoiling relief and can unlink DNA loops)
Fluoroquinolones spectrum
have broad spectra of activity, including Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Some have activity against anaerobes and mycobacteria. o Good activity against common urinary and respiratory pathogens, so can be used as empiric therapy for these
Why rifamycins are used in combination therapy for a few serious infections.
resistance quickly develops due to small changes in the bacterial RNA polymerase
The adverse effects of rifamycins
- discoloration of secretions - orange
- (rarely) injure the liver in the presence of other sources of hepatic injury
- increase metabolism of other drugs
The adverse effects of fluoroquinolones
- animal models, weaken cartilage formation in young
- cause a rare tendinitis and tendon rupture in adults
- cardiac arrythmias (potential predisposition)