Antimicrobial Therapy Flashcards
What is the most important thing to tell the patient regarding antibiotics?
complete entire antibiotic course to prevent antibiotic resistance
What is Antibiotic Therapy?
antibiotic are chemicals used to kill or suppress growth of microorganism causing infection
Define Empiric therapy
treatment of an infection before specific culture information has been reported or obtained
Define Prophylactic therapy
treatment with antibiotics to prevent an infection, as in intra-abdominal surgery
What are super infections?
secondary opportunistic infections – infection occurring during Antibiotic therapy, Antibiotic destroy normal flora leading to an overgrowth of microorganism resistant to antibiotic.
An infection occurring during an antimicrobial treatment for another infection, resulting in overgrowth of a nonsusceptible organism.
For example: Candidiasis, oral thrush, clostridium difficile
Define inflammation
A protective reaction of body tissues in response to invasion from pathogenic microbes or their toxins.
What is Bacteraemia?
Presence of viable bacteria in the circulation.
What is Septicaemia?
Systemic infection caused by micro-organism multiplication in the circulation
Define Narrow Spectrum
the drug is active against a selected group of bacteria
Define Broad Spectrum
the drug has a range of activity against gram-negative and positive bacteria
What is Bacteriostatic?
Inhibition of bacterial growth, allowing host defence mechanisms additional time to remove the invading microorganisms. (slows bacterial growth)
What is Bactericidal?
Causing bacterial cell death and lysis. (kills bacteria)
Define antibiotic resistance
overtime bacteria have developed highly sophisticated ways to overcome the effects of antibiotic therapy (one of the greatest threats to human health)
What are some classes of antibiotics?
- Penicillin
- Cephalosporins
- Vancomycin
- Tetracyclines
- Macrolides
- Aminoglycosides
What is an example of penicillin antibiotics?
- Amoxicillin
What is the indication for use as well as MOA for penicillin?
inhibit cell wall synthesis by disrupting the rigid cross-linked structure, causing cell lysis and death. It is bactericidal.
Broad-spectrum antibiotic used for treating bacterial infections
What are some adverse drug reactions associated with penicillin?
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, candidiasis, allergic reactions
What are some interactions and contraindications associated with penicillin?
may decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives, incompatible with aminoglycosides. Anticoagulants increase the risk of bleeding
What are the monitoring requirements associated with penicillin?
baseline vitals, monitor for signs and symptoms of allergies, superinfection e.g. fever, perineal itching, sore mouth, cough, diarrhoea, or any unusual discharge.
What patient education is required for penicillin?
- effectiveness decreased when taken with caffeine, citrus fruit, cola beverages, fruit juices or tomato juice.
- Educate patients about the responsible use of ABs, including when an AB is not indicated.
- take Abs exactly as prescribed for the length of time prescribed.
- Do not stop taking Abs even if feeling better (to discourage survival & proliferation of resistance strains).
- Report any new or unusual symptoms (superinfection).
- Never use left-over ABs or ABs prescribed for someone else
- Timely administers ABs, monitors ADRs/superinfection, effectiveness of ABs, appropriate sampling for culture testing to guide selection of specific ABs
What are some examples of Cephalosporins?
cephalexin, cefazolin, ceftriaxone
What is the indication of use for Cephalosporins?
used for bacterial infection (primarily gram negative bacteria)
What is the MOA for cephalosporins?
bactericidal, weakens cell wall of bacteria causing cell death.
What are some adverse drug reactions to Cephalosporins?
GI upset, allergies (penicillin) – rash, hives etc, renal toxicity.
