antimicrobial drugs

Question 1

what is an antimicrobial drug

Answer 1

drugs that treat infectious diseases (infections caused by micro organisms)

Question 2

what is a true antibiotic

Answer 2

is naturally produced by an organism

Question 3

Which Genus of bacteria produces many of the antibiotics that humans use?

Answer 3

streptomyces

Question 4

what is a semisynthetic antimicorbial drug

Answer 4

chemically altered anitmicrobial that are more effective, longer lasting than natural one

Question 5

what are synthetic antimicrobial drugs

Answer 5

antimicrobial drugs that are completely produced in a lab

Question 6

Describe selective toxicity of an antimicrobial agent

Answer 6

Selective toxicity- when drug should selectively target the microorganism and NOT damage human cells

Question 7

Briefly DESCRIBE the six main mechanisms of antimicrobial. This is asking –what are the ways that an antimicrobial drug will try to kill a microorganism?

Answer 7

Inhibition of cell wall synthesis, inhibition of protein synthesis, disruption off cytoplasmic membrane, inhibition of DNA or RNA, inhibition of metabolic pathway, inhibition of pathogens attachment or entry into host cell

Question 8

Why do antibacterial drugs make up the largest number of antimicrobial drugs?

Answer 8

bacteria and prokaryotic cells are easier to target bacteria without harming humans. And because there are many antibacterial drugs

Question 9

Why are there fewer drugs to treat eukaryotic infections (ie protozoa and fungal)?

Answer 9

human cells are eukaryotic so these can have many adverse effects// eukaryotic infections are very common to eukaryotic hosts of the human body

Question 10

Why do antivirals make up the smallest percentage of antimicrobial drugs?

Answer 10

because trying to prevent viral replication can damage host cells and many antivirals are ineffective if not given shortly after exposure

Question 11

Define spectrum of action—

Answer 11

number of different pathogens a drug acts against

Question 12

define broad spectrum

Answer 12

effective against many organisms//kills more groups or types

Question 13

define narrow spectrum

Answer 13

effective against a few organisms//killing fewer types of microorganisms

Question 14

Explain the difference between a “susceptible” microbe and a resistant microbe to a specific antimicrobial drug

Answer 14

susceptible microbe- It is killed by drug
Resistant- the drug does not kill the microorganism

Question 15

Describe the “Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test.”

Answer 15

a laboratory procedure performed by medical technologists (clinical laboratory scientists) to identify which antimicrobial regimen is specifically effective for Individual patients.

Question 16

Describe the 3 general side effects (safety issues) of antimicrobial agents—include examples

Answer 16

allergies- abnormal immune response (rare but may be life threatening)
ex- rash, anaphylactic shock, vasodilation, airway closes

disruption of normal flora - may result in secondary infections, can vase GI side effects such as diarrhea and nausea, vaginal yeast infection

toxicity to organs
ex- liver- liver enzymes//kidney- creatine or bun increase

Question 17

Describe 2 general ways resistance in bacteria is acquired by the microorganism (genetically)

Answer 17

new mutations of chromosomes and R plasmids

Question 18

Describe the ways that resistance to antimicrobial drugs can be prevented?

Answer 18

using antimicrobial drug only when necessary, take drug the entire time, modifying semisynthetic, make new drugs, take 2 antimicrobial drugs at same time

Question 19

What are some common “resistant” microorganisms?

Answer 19

MRSA,VRSA,VRE