antimicrobials I

Question 1

antibiotic vs. antimicrobial

Answer 1

antibiotic: compound produced by one living organism that has an inhibitory effect on growth/replication of another living organism aka antibacterial. antimicrobial = comprehensive term, natural and synthetic compounds, antibacterials, antifungals, antivirals, antiparasitics = use this term

Question 2

prophylaxis

Answer 2

giving antimicrobials to prevent infection prior to exposure

Question 3

post exposure prophylaxis

Answer 3

giving antimicrobials to prevent infection but AFTER exposure

Question 4

pre-emptive therapy

Answer 4

giving antimicrobials for presumed/unproven infection, but prior to development of clinical disease (signs and symptoms)

Question 5

empiric therapy

Answer 5

giving antimicrobials to treat clinically apparent infection, before you know for certain which microbe is causing the problem

Question 6

when you choose an empiric therapy, you have to consider? (5)

Answer 6

which organ system + clinical syndrome. what you know about the bacteria. antimicrobial susceptibility of the relevant bacteria. host factors (age, kidney function, allergies). what the activities of various antimicrobials are at the site of infection.

Question 7

definitive therapy

Answer 7

giving antimicrobials to treat a documented infection, targeting a specific pathogens that have been cultured, and for which antimicrobial susceptibilities are available

Question 8

suppressive therapy

Answer 8

giving antimicrobials to control residual infection, in an effort to minimize damage and preserve function

Question 9

general principles of giving antimicrobials (5)

Answer 9

use narrowest spectrum aka most specific. try to do definitive therapy vs. empiric. use shortest duration of treatment. oral preferred over IV therapy. and use the less expensive drug.

Question 10

MIC: stands for? meaning?

Answer 10

minimum inhibitory concentration = min. conc. required to inhibit logarithmic growth of organism. is specific to bug drug combination.

Question 11

MBC?

Answer 11

minimum bacterial concentration:aka it kills them

Question 12

bactericidal: MIC and MBC are usually within __ dilutions of each other?

Answer 12

within 2

Question 13

bacteriostatic agents?

Answer 13

inhibit growth and replication, allowing competent immune system and inflammatory responses to then deal with infection

Question 14

static vs. cidal?

Answer 14

misleading terms: not a dichotomy and seems to depend on dose

Question 15

neutropenic host

Answer 15

impaired cellular immunity from cheomtherapy, leukemia, etc.

Question 16

when do you HAVE to use bacteriocidals?

Answer 16

neutropenic hosts. endocarditis. meningitis

Question 17

why do you need cidal for endocarditis

Answer 17

bacteria embedded in fibrin deposits so immune system can’t get to them = antimicrobials need to do all the work