Antibiotics - General Concepts & Classifications Flashcards
Mechanisms of antibiotic selective toxicity
Inhibition of a metabolic pathway found in bacteria but not humans - i.e. folate metabolism
Same pathway but differences in enzyme structure - i.e. bacterial vs. eukaryotic ribosome, bacterial gyrase vs. eukaryotic topoisomerase
Macromolecule that does not exist in humans - i.e. cell wall synthesis
Macromolecule differs between microbes and humans - i.e. fungal cell membrane
Natural (intrinsic) resistance
Microbes lack a susceptible target for drug action and thus are resistant to one or more class of antibiotics
Ex.
E. coli is resistant to penicillin because penicillin does not fit through the pores in the OM of E. coli; E. coli is susceptible to amoxicillin because its more hydrophilic
Mycoplasm is resistant to B-lactams because it has no cell wall
Antibiotic tolerance / escape resistance
Microbes are sensitive to antibiotics and the drug is able to reach its target BUT the organisms can resist killing by other adaptive mechanisms, including
Growth in biofilms
Metabolic bypass
Anaerobic growth
Stationary phase
Mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antibiotics (5)
- Altered target to which antibiotic cannot bind
Ex: DNA gyrase mutations causing fluoroquinolone resistance, PBP mutations causing B-lactam resistance - Enzymatic degradation of antibiotic
Ex: B-lactamase degradation of penicillins and cephalosporins - Increased antibiotic efflux
- Decreased antibiotic influx
Porin channel mutations - Alternative resistant metabolic pathway
Bactericidal Mechanisms of antibacterial action
Organisms are killed by the antibiotic:
Inhibition of cell wall synthesis
Disruption of cell membrane function
Interference with DNA function or synthesis
Bacteriostatic Mechanisms of antibacterial action
Organisms are prevented from growing:
Inhibition of protein synthesis
Inhibition of intermediary metabolic pathways
Which antibiotics readily enter the CSF?
Chloramphenicol
Sulfonamides
Cephalosporins (3rd/4th)
Rifampin
Which antibiotics enter the CSF with inflammation?
Penicillins
Vancomycin
Ciprofloxacin
Tetracycline
Which antibiotics enter the CSF poorly?
Aminoglycosides
Cephalosporins (1st/2nd)
Erythromycin
Clindamycin
Examples of beneficial selective distribution of antibiotics (4)
Clindamycin - into bone (osteomyelitis)
Macrolides - into pulmonary cells (URIs)
Tetracyclines - into gingival fluid (periodontitis) and sebum (acne)
Nitrofurantoin - rapidly excreted into urine (UTIs)
Examples of toxic selective accumulation of antibiotics
Aminoglycides - into the inner ear (ototoxicity) and renal brush border (nephrotoxicity)
Tetracyclines - into Ca2+ in developing bone (abnormal bone growth) and teeth (tooth discoloration)
Mechanisms of antibiotic toxicity
- Direct Toxicity, due to lack of selective toxocity - usually GI irritation, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity
- Indirect toxicity - hypersensitivity, DDIs via alterations in CYP450 metabolic activity
- Disturbances of host microflora - superinfection, ex: pseudomembranous colitis due to C. dif overgrowth
- Host factors - very old, very young, pregnant/nursing mothers, drug allergies
Penicillins - 6 Classes + Representative Drugs
MOA: Cell wall synthesis inhibition, stage 3 - inhibits cross-linking of peptidoglycan polymers at the cell wall; bactericidal
Prototype: Penicillin G
Acid Stable: Penicillin V
Penicillinase-resistant: Dicloxacillin
Extended Spectrum: Amoxicillin, ampicillin
Anti-Pseudomonal: Piperacillin-Tazobactam
Penicillin plus Beta-lactamase inhibitor: Clavulanic Acid
Cephalosporins
MOA: Cell wall synthesis inhibition, stage 3 - inhibits cross-linking of peptidoglycan polymers at the cell wall; bactericidal
1st: Cephalexin, Cefazolin
2nd: Cefuroxime
3rd: Ceftriaxone
4th & 5th
Vancomycin
MOA: Cell wall synthesis inhibitor, stage 2 (inhibits linear polymerization of cell wall sub units); bactericidal