Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Flashcards
Define bactericidal
An antimicrobial that kills bacteria
Define Bacteriostatic
Antimicrobial that inhibits growth of bacteria
Define Sensitive
Organism that is inhibited or killed by the antimicrobial, that is available at the site of infection
Define Resistant
Organism that is not killed or inhibited by the antimicrobial that is available at the site of infection
What does MBC stand for?
Minimal bactericidal concentration
What is MBC?
The minimum concentration of antimicrobial required to kill a given organism
What does MIC mean?
Minimal inhibitory concentration
What is MIC?
The minimum concentration of antimicrobial required to inhibit growth of a given organism.
What is topical administration and what is an example?
This treatment is applied to a surface (e.g. the skin or a mucous membrane), for example eczema creams)
What is systemic administration?
A treatment/ medication that is taken internally, either orally or parentally. (e.g. tablets)
What is parental administration?
This is medication that is taken intra-venously or intra-muscularly or occasionally subcutaneously. ( e.g. injections)
What is an additive effect?
When 2 or more drugs are taken in combination and they have no effect on each other. Both of their normal effects occur,
What is an antagonistic effect?
2 or more drugs that are taken together have a combined effect that is less than the sum of their individual contributions.
What is a synergistic effect?
When the combined effect of 2 or more drugs is greater than the sum of their individual contributions.
What groups of antibiotics inhibit cell wall synthesis?
Beta lactams (Penicillins and Cephalosporins) Glycopeptides
What groups of antibiotics inhibit protein synthesis?
Aminoglycosides Macrolides Tetracyclines Oxazolidinones Cyclic Lipopeptide
What types of antibiotics inhibit nucleic acid synthesis?
Fluoroquinolones
When Bacteriostatic and Bactericidal antibiotics are used in combination ( e.g. Trimethoprim + Sulphamethoxazole = Co-trimoxazole )
Describe the mechanism of how beta lactams work
These are bactericidal antibiotics. Beta lactams bind to the penicillin binding proteins and deactivates them
prevents cross linking (with amino acids) of sugar strands (carb polymers).
so peptidoglycan can not be produced
the cell wall not synthesised.
Describe the mechanism of glycopeptides
These are bactericidal antibiotics, which bind to the amino acid chains and prevent penicillin binding proteins from binding, so peptidoglycan an not be synthesised.
(they inhibit the assembly of peptidoglycan precursor)
What are Beta lactams effective against?
Gram positive bacteria (mostly)
What are glycopeptides effective against?
They only act of gram positive bacteria
Briefly describe the mechanism of aminoglycosides
These bind in the ribosome and causes the messenger RNA to be misread or premature termination of the protein synthesis (or both).
This leads to inaccuracy in the protein produced, so this protein will then be destroyed.
What is an aminoglycoside and what is an example of one?
It is a concentration-dependant bactericidal antibiotic, so the concentration determines whether the aminoglycoside is bactericidal or not.
Example: gentamicin
What are aminoglycosides effective against?
A serious gram-negative infection (e.g. coliform)
What are important examples of glycopeptides?
Vancomycin and Teiplanin
What advantage does Teicoplanin have over Vancomycin?
Teicoplanin is a less toxic than Vancomycin and can be taken as a single dose a day.
Describe the mechanism of macrolides
They prevent a peptide bond from forming between the growing amino acid chain to the next amino acid (being transported by tRNA molecule.
What is an example of macrolides?
Erythroycin
Describe the mechanism of tetracyclines
They block the attachment of (aminoacyl) tRNA to the A site on the ribosome, this prevents the addition of amino acids to the peptide chain.
What are tetracyclines used to treat?
Gram-positive bacteria
Describe the mechanism of oxazolidinones
These prevent the 2 subunits of the ribosome from linking, so that synthesis can not occur.
What is an example of an oxazolidinones?
Linezoild (only used in the treatment of serious infection)