Antimicrobials Flashcards
-cidal Antimicrobials
- Faster onset
- Functional immune syst not required
- Used in immunocompromised individuals
- Used in life-threatening infections
-static Antimicrobials
- Slower onset
- Does require functional immune system in pt
- Not advised in immunocompromised individuals
- Not advised in life-threatening infections
Selective Toxicity
Goal: minimal/no effect against host but maximum effect against infecting microorganism
*low selective toxicity = higher risk of side effects
Broad-spectrum Antimicrobials
Effective against a wide range of infectious micro organisms which includes both G+ve and G-ve bacteria
Narrow-spectrum Antimicrobials
Active against selected group of bacterial types
Broad-spectrum Used when:
Wide differential dx, delayed tx to identify microorganism would be detrimental to pt, tx of drug resistant pathogens where their resistance is to narrow spectrum compounds, or polymicrobial infections
Synergistic Interaction
Compounds are more effective in combination with one another
E.g. - penicillin is -static on its own but add genamicin the duo becomes -cidal
Target sites for Abx:
- Metabolism
- Protein synthesis
- CW
- Nucleic acid synthesis
Sulfonamides
Target: folic acid synthesis
Structure: analog of PABA (component of folic acid in bacteria)
Selective toxicity: no equivalent mammalian pathway (bacteria must synthesize their own folic acid)
Cyclines
Mechanism: bind aminoacyl site of 30s ribosome; aminoacyl tRNA is unable to bind bc of this
Aminoglycosides
Mechanism: interfere w/ formation of 30S initiation complex
Macrolides
Mechanism: bind to 23S component of 50S rRNA, blocks exit of peptide chain
Inhibitors of PG/CW synthesis
Groups: penicillins, cephalosporins, monobactgams, carbapenems
*bacteria must be actively replicating for these compounds to work (active ONLY on growing cells)
B-lactams
Target: mecA gene that encodes for penicillin binding protein (PBP) aka transpeptidases
Mechanism: interfere w/ transpeptidase enzymes that cross-link the PG/CW of the bacterium, the (must be replicating/growing) microorganism will lyse
Effect: bacterial cell lysis
Inhibitors of nucleic acid synthesis
Mechanism: inhibitors of DNA gyrase
Quinolone: synthetic abx
Fluoroquinolone: addition of side chain to quinolone to change the activity of the abx
Inherent Resistance
- Lack of target for drug to act against (mycoplasma has no CW so resistant to penicillin)
- Structural restriction (G-ve outer membrane blocks abx access)
Acquired Resistance
Via genetic diversity the bacterium transfer resistant genes to offspring, and random mutations occur causing resistance
Aminoglycosides
Ineffective against: anaerobes
Reason: ox-phos is absent in anaerobes
Glycopeptides
Ineffective against: G-ve
Reason: large abx and can’t penetrate the outer membrane
Nitroimidazoles
Ineffective against: aerobes
Reason: aerobes lack flavodoxin (which activates the nitroimidazoles)
Altered Uptake
Decrease/block uptake to prevent intracellular accumulation of abx to therapeutic level
Mechanism: often involves multi-drug resistance efflux pumps