Antimicrobial Drugs (BE # 4) Flashcards
Father of chemotherapy
Paul Erlich
guiding principle is selective toxicity - harm the pathogen, not the host
How is an antibiotic different from any other antimicrobial drug?
it is naturally produced by a bacterium or fungus
synthetic antibiotics
fully synthesized in laboratory
semisynthetic antibiotics
chemical modified after being isolated from natural sources, like bacteria & fungi
narrow spectrum antibiotics
target G(+) OR G(-) bacteria
broad spectrum antibiotics
target G(+) AND G(-) bacteria
What is a major disadvantage to using a broad-spectrum antibiotic?
wipes out normal flora bacteria as well, leaving patient more susceptible to super infection
Where do natural antibiotics come from?
fungi (Penicillium & Cephalosporium
bacteria (Bacillus & Actinomycetes)
3 major groups of beta lactam antibiotics
- Penicillin
- Cephalosporins
- Carbapanems
What is the MOA of beta lactam antibiotics?
they target the enzymes that create protein cross linkages between NAGA-NAMA sugar chains in the peptidoglycan cell wall. This creates weak points in the cell wall making the cell osmotically fragile. The cell wall can no longer withstand turgor pressure and lyses.
How are penicillins selectively toxic?
They affect the protein cross linkages in the peptidoglycan cell wall. Humans don’t have cell walls, so are not harmed.
Why are some penicillins not as effective against G(-) bacteria?
They are too large to fit through the porins (channel proteins) in the outer membrane.
Cephalosporins
- start with “ceph” or “def”
* derived from fungi
What group of beta lactam antibiotics has been altered so it stays in the blood longer?
Carbapenems (beta lactam antibiotic + cilastatin sodium)
beta lactamase
an enzyme produced by resistant bacteria to break down beta lactam rings
Penicillianase
first beta lactamase discovered
MRSA
methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
ESBL
Extended - Spectrum beta lactamases
Hydrolyzes (breaks down) penicillin & cephalosporin
CRE
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae
A family of bacteria resistant to nearly all antibiotics
KPC
An enzyme produced by CRE
Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase
G(-)
Confers resistance to all beta lactam antibiotics (penicillins, cephalosporins, carbapenems); hydrolyzes all
NDM-1
An enzyme produced by CRE
New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase
originally found in New Delhi
gene found in E. coli & Klebsiella pneumoniae
Penicillins
Fungus - Penicillium notatum Beta lactam antibiotics narrow spectrum against G(+) Methicillin Ampicillin Amoxicillin
Cephalosporins
Fungus - Cephalosporium Beta lactam antibiotic broad spectrum Cephalexin (Keflex) Ceftriaxone (Rocephin) Cefuroxime (Ceftin) Cephadroxil (Duricef) Cefaclor (Ceclor) Cefixime (Suprax) Cefprozil (Cefzil)
Carpapenems
Bacteria - Actinomycetes (Streptomycetes)
broader spectrum than cephalosporins
Imipenem (Primaxin) - beta lactam antibiotic + cilastatin sodium = stays in blood longer
Bacitracin
Bacteria - Bacillus subtilis
MOA - inhibits synthesis of glycan strands in peptidoglycan molecule, so wall structure is compromised & can no longer withstand turgor pressure. They lyse
Only used topically; part of triple antibiotic ointment