Antimicrobial chemotherapy Flashcards
What are bacteriostatic agents?
Inhibitors of protein synthesis - they bind to ribosomes
If the concentration of the bacteriostatic agent is lowered, growth of microbe resumes. True or false?
True
When a bacteriostatic agent is given, both the total cell count and the viable cell count stay the same. True or false?
True
What are bacteriocidal agents?
Bind tightly to cells and kill them
Are dead cells destroyed when administering a bacteriocidal agent?
No
What happens to the total cell count and viable cell count when a bacteriocidal agent is used?
Total cell count remains the same
Viable cell count decreases
What is a bacteriolytic agent?
Kills cells by lysis
What happens to the total cell count and the viable cell count when bacteriolytic agent is given?
Both decrease
What are the two ways in which antimicrobial activity can be measured?
Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)
Disc diffusion assay
What does the MIC indicate?
The minimum amount of agent needed to inhibit growth of a test bacterium
What does disc diffusion assay do?
Determines the zone of inhibition
Can antiseptics be used on living tissue?
Yes - non toxic
Biocides sterilise. True or false?
False - not necessarily
What does the efficacy of a biocide depend on?
microbial load
concentration of biocide used
presence of organic matter
What is the most resistant microbe to biocides?
Prions
