Antimicrobials Flashcards
What is the notable antiparasitic agent and what does it treat?
Quinine treats malaria.
Why can antifungals be toxic to humans?
Fungal cells and human cells are both eukaryotic.
What aspect of fungal cells do many antifungal agents target?
Ergosterol, since humans produce cholesterol instead.
What is the most common antifungal drug used for systemic fungal illnesses?
Amphotericin B.
How do antiviral agents generally work (5 ways)?
- Inhibit DNA/RNA synthesis.
- Act as entry inhibitors to block attachments of viruses to host cells.
- Uncoating inhibitors inhibit vacuoles with the virus to release virions into the cytoplasm.
- Nucleoside analogues cause production of nonfunctional DNA/RNA.
- Protease inhibitors cause fewer proteins to be created for viral replication.
Which 3 antibiotics inhibit cell wall synthesis?
Beta lactams.
Vancomycin.
Bacitracin.
Which 3 nucleic acids can antibiotics inhibit?
DNA Gyrase.
RNA Polymerase.
Folate synthesis.
What are the 5 major classes of antimicrobials?
- Inhibition of cell wall synthesis.
- Inhibition of protein synthesis.
- Injury to the plasma membrane.
- Inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis.
- Inhibition of essential metabolite synthesis.
What is the difference between specific and broad-spectrum antibiotics?
Specific is preferred because it inhibits either G+/G- or specific bacterial species, which broad-spectrum works on all.
Why are broad-spectrum antibiotics avoided if possible?
They affect our normal flora as well.
When do we use specific antibiotics?
If the cause of infection is known.
When do we use broad-spectrum antibiotics?
Polymicrobial infections or if we don’t know the cause of infection.
Which 5 demographics are more susceptible to infections/disease?
Diabetics, children, the elderly, burn wound victims & the immunocompromised.
What are 4 situations where there may be complications with antibiotics?
Allergies.
Pregnant women.
Children.
Patients with pre-existing kidney/liver damage.
What are the potential side effects of penicllins?
Rash, allergy, GI upsets.
What are the potential side effects of aminoglycosides?
Kidney damage, ototoxicity (reversible or permanent deafness).
What are the potential side effects of fluoroquinolones?
Liver damage, nerve damage & impact on cartilage formation in children.
What is one potential side effect of tetracyclines?
Consequences for teeth & bone formation in children (why pregnant women should avoid tetracyclines).
No antibiotic will be effective if:
used too late in the infection.
When could IV antibiotics be used instead of oral antibiotics?
For those with GI problems.
When it is the only drug possible (ex: vancomycin).
When we need it to be effective quickly: rapid bioavailability important for serious infections like meningitis, septicaemia, endocarditis.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is Gram _.
- (negative).
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an _____________ pathogen.
opportunistic.
Which kinds of patients does Pseudomonas aeruginosa common in?
Burn patients & those with cystic fibrosis.
Does Pseudomonas aeruginosa have endotoxin or exotoxin?
Both!
