Antimicrobials Patho Flashcards
Antimicrobials
Meds that slow bacterial growth or inhibit it
Characteristics of antimicrobials
- Occur naturally
- synthetic or semi-synthetic
- bactericidal or bacteriostatic
- broad or narrow spectrum
Bacteriostatic vs Bacteriocidal
Static=slow or inhibit bad growth
Cidal=kill bac
Selective toxicity
Toxic to certain cells while sparing others in close proximity
Resistance
Ability to live against antimicrobials or render anti-microbial ineffective
- innate or acquired
Super infections
- Occur after tx for primary infections
- c.diff and candidasis
Prophylactic abx
- prevent infx
- for high risk procedures or pts—orthopedic, cardiac, abdominal, endocarditis (dental procedures), immunocompromised
Factors in the choosing of abx
- community vs hospital acquired
- site of infx
- suspected organism and what it is susceptible to—helps limit resistance
What should you ALWAYS try to do before starting abx?
Get a culture
- if pt is critically ill, you might not be able to wait, but giving abx may prevent organism from growing in the culture
- if meningitis or sepsis, will start abx (for meningitis, need one that crosses BBB)
What does sputum tell you?
Gram, C&S
What does urine tell you
Urinalysis, C&S
Blood analysis
Anaerobic vs aerobic bottles
- test for each type of bac
- one should always be peripheral
- be v careful with cleaning bottles
Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)
Put different concentrations of abx in with bac; look for the lowest amt of drug that inhibits bac growth (does not kill) and prescribe that to reduce resistance
- report it as susceptible or resistant
Drug sensitivity of ogranism
Determine what drug is effective
- smear abx on plate with bac, look for circle with not growth to see efficacy
Allergies to drugs
- if allergic, no work (rash, welts, anaphylaxis—true allergy)
- PCN allergy, might also be allergic to cephalosporins
- Sulfa allergies—Bactrim
- age—can develop at any age
