Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Flashcards
Define MIC.
Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (minimum concentration of antimicrobial needed to inhibit visible growth of micro-organisms)
Define MBC.
Minimal Bacteriocidal Concentration (minimum concentration of antimicrobial needed to kill a given organism).
Define sensitive.
If organism is inhibited or killed by levels of the antimicrobial that are available at the site of infection.
Define resistant.
If organism is not killed or inhibited by levels of the antimicrobial that are available at the site of infection.
Define synergy.
Two cidal drugs combined or two static drugs combined (enhanced effect together)
Define antagonism.
Combination of one static and one tidal drug (less effect together).
Describe the main mechanisms of action of antibiotics.
- Inhibit cell wall synthesis
- Inhibit protein synthesis
- Inhibit nucleic acid synthesis
Give examples of antibiotics that inhibit cell wall synthesis.
Penicillins, Cephalosporins and glycopeptides
Give examples of antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis.
Amioglycosides, macrocodes, tetracyclines, oxazolidinone, cyclic lipopeptides.
Give an example of antibiotics that inhibit nucleic acid synthesis by direct DNA synthesis inhibition.
Fluoroquinolones
Give examples of antibiotics that inhibit different steps in purine synthesis.
Nitrofurantoin, Trimethoprim and sulphamethoxazole (co-trimoxazole), Fusidic acid, Metronidazole, Clindamycin
What antibiotics are used for patients with a penicillin allergy.
Macrolides (Clarithromycin and erythromycin)
Give an example of an aminoglycoside.
Gentamicin
What type of bacteria is gentamicin effective against?
Gram negative, pseudomonas and staphylococci.
What antibiotic is used to to treat chlamydia?
Tetracyclines e.g doxycycline.
What is Trimethoprim used to treat?
UTI’s and respiratory tract infections.
What is nitrofurantoin used for?
Gram negative bacteria e.g in urinary tract infections.
Why is Ciprofloxacin contraindicated in children?
Interfere with cartilage growth.
Describe the mechanism of action of beta-lactams.
Prevent cross-linking of peptidoglycan chains by inhibiting PBP on cell wall.
What is the mechanism of action of clavulonic acid?
Inhibits beta-lactamases.
What type of bacteria do beta-lactams target?
Gram positive.