Antimicrobial chemotherapy

Question 1

What is the definition of Bactericidal?

Answer 1

An antimicrobial that kills bacteria (e.g. penicillin’s)

Question 2

What is the definition of Bacteriostatic?

Answer 2

An antimicrobial that inhibits growth of bacteria (e.g. erythromycin)

Question 3

What is the definitive of Sensitive?

Answer 3

An organism is considered sensitive if it is inhibited or killed by levels of antimicrobial that are available at the site of infection.

Question 4

What is the definition of Resistant?

Answer 4

An organism is considered resistant if it is not killed or inhibited by levels of antimicrobial that are available at the site of infection.

Question 5

What is MIC?

Answer 5

Minimal inhibitory concentration is defined as the minimum concentration of antimicrobial needed to inhibit visible growth of a given organism.

Question 6

What is MBC?

Answer 6

Minimal bactericidal concentration is defined as the minimum concentration of the antimicrobial needed to kill a given organism.

Question 7

What are the routes of Administration?

Answer 7

Topical - Applied to a surface, usually skin or to mucous membranes e.g. conjunctiva

Systemic - Taken internally, either orally or parenterally.

Parenteral - Administered either intra-venously (IV) or intra-muscularly (IM), occasionally subcutaneously.

Question 8

What are the three ways an antibiotic can inhibit or kill bacteria?

Answer 8

Inhibition of cell wall synthesis (e.g. penicillins and cephalosporins)

Inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis (e.g. trimethoprim and ciprofloxacin)

Inhibition of protein synthesis (e.g. gentamicin and erythromycin)